Mavericks fall to Aces but Top 2 finish still within sight

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Mavericks moved to within striking distance of the second spot despite bowing to the league-leading and defending champion Micromax Indian Aces, 23-24, on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai.

The tough loss helped the Mavericks pile up some points to narrow the gap between them and the second running Singapore Slammers. The Mavericks now own a 49.2 winning percentage (214-221), just a two percent shy of Slammers' 51.3 (201-191). The Aces, who won despite giving up six points in the Legends singles, are way ahead of everybody with 57.0 winning percentage (241-182). 

The Aces dropped the opening set with Fabrice Santoro calling in sick with fever.  Rohan Bopanna came in to replace the legend, whom they call the The Magician, and blanked the Mavericks' legend James Blake, 6-0.  But the six points were later awarded to the PHL side as Bopanna isn't considered a legend yet. 

Agnieszka Radwanksa cut into the Mavericks' lead with a 6-4 win in the women's singles against Ajla Tomjanovic. 

Bopanna returned to the court again and, this time, teamed up with compatriot and mixed doubles partner Sania Mirza to claim another 6-4 victory for the Aces at the expense of Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Jarmila Gajdosova. 

“We’re a really strong team, and everyone wants us to lose! Fabrice called in sick with a fever today. But we’re hungry to win each time we step out on the court as a team. We’re more or less the same team as last year, with a few additions and subtractions. That said, we play to win, and are happy with our performance today," Mirza later said in the post-match press conference. 

Bopanna played his third set of the evening with Ivan Dodig and did not show any sign of fatigue as their tandem outlasted Fil-Am Treat Huey and Roger-Vasselin, 6-5, to come within one, 19-18. 

Bernard Tomic, who looked more comfortable in his second day in the tour, handed the Aces the win via 6-4 score against Ivo Karlovic in the final set. 

The Mavericks will be keen spectators as the Aces hope to continue their amazing run against the Slammers in the final day of Dubai leg that will help them move up to the standings while the home team UAE Royals hope to win in front of their home crowd against the cellar-dweller Japan Warriors in the main match.