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World No. 1 Iga Swiatek undefeated, Felix Auger-Aliasim seals Eagles win
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek takes on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Dubai on Thursday. — Photo by Neeraj Murali
If 2022 was a seminal year for Iga Swiatek, who became the world’s No. 1 women’s tennis player, 2023 will bring an even bigger return for the Polish star, who is on her way to Set off a Desert Storm with her team Kite at the inaugural World Tennis Championships at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
The Poles beat Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Eagle) 6-4, 6-3 on Monday, following Monday’s victory over Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia (Eagle). Afterwards, the Kites beat the Eagles 2-1 despite losing their first double.
The Kites topped the four-team standings with 77 points at the end of Thursday’s fourth day, with the Hawks in second with 66 points, one ahead of Novak Djokovic’s Falcons. 58 points at the bottom.
Swatek has shown her tennis prowess by winning this year’s French Open and US Open, and now she is ready to push herself even harder in the new year.
And what better way to prepare for an assault on the fast-improving women’s game than by winning two singles matches in the new mixed-gender team event.
“I think it’s a new adjustment experience and I’m very happy with my game because it’s a very tight game and it’s okay for both sides at times,” Swatek said. “So I’m glad I took my chances in those big moments of the game.”
In the final game of the night, Felix Auger-Aliasim beat Dominic Thiem in absolute suspense to keep the kites in contention for Saturday’s final.
Auger-Aliassime won 7-6 7-6.
Sania Mirza in action. — Photo by Neeraj Murali
It was Ladies Day at the World Tennis Federation as local tennis fans feasted their eyes on Dubai-based Indian superstar Sania Mirza’s first appearance on these shores in a long time earlier in the evening when she met Felix The Augger-Aliassime partnership represented the Kite team in their first mixed doubles match against Elena Rybakina and Alexander Zverev of the Hawks.
Mirza did not disappoint them, as she and Og Aliassim showed her form to win six Grand Slam titles before losing in the super tie-break. The final score was 7-5 3-6 (10-5), with the Hawks leading the Kite 12-11 overall.
Mirza, who reached the mixed doubles semi-finals at Wimbledon this year, is one of several celebrities who made Dubai their permanent home after falling in love with the vibrant city more than a decade ago. She even publicly stated, “Once you live in Dubai, it’s very difficult to live anywhere else.”
Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev praised each other as the better player on the day.
“Elena played much better than me, that’s for sure. I’m glad she was my partner, otherwise it would have been very difficult, but I think we’re both happy with the win,” said the German, who Earlier in the week, he defeated 21-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the World Tennis Championships.
However, Elena commented modestly: “We were actually singles players, so it was a good result for us. I think we both played well and complimented each other’s game.”
A total of 18 of the world’s top players were drawn to four teams in a round-robin format, including a men’s singles match, a women’s singles match and a mixed doubles match.
One point for each game won in a tie, one point for each game won in the third-set tie-break, and five points for a tie.
After Friday’s round-robin stage, the top two teams will face off in the final on Christmas Eve, December 24.
result
> Hawks vs Kites
> Mixed Doubles
Elena Rybakina/Alexander Zverev defeated Sania Mirza/Felix Auger-Aliassime (Kite Team) 7-5 3-6 (10-5). Total score 12-11
> women’s singles
Iga Świątek (Kite) defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Eagle) 6-4 6-3. Total score 23-19
> Men’s Singles
Felix Auger-Aliassime (Kites) beat Dominic Thiem (Eagle)
friday’s schedule
> 2 p.m.: Hawks vs. Hawks
B. Andreescu/ R Bopanna vs A Pvlyuchenkova/ D Thiem
Caroline Garcia vs Elena Rybakina
Nick Kyrgios vs Alexander Zverev
> 6 p.m. Falcons vs. Kites
P Badosa. G Dimitrov vs E Bouchard. H rune
Arena Sabalenka v Igaswatek
Novak Djokovic vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
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