Punjab Marshalls serve up second win on the trot

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27 

Punjab Marshalls beat Raipur Rangers 23-15 in the Champions Tennis League (CTL) encounter at the CLTA courts complex here today. The home team clinched the tie after Marcos Baghdatis won the last game against Roberto Bautista Agut.

Punjab was leading 22-15 after the end of the last set that was won by Rangers' Roberto Bautista Agut. As the rules of the league require the team leading (in terms of games) to win the final game, the match went into 'overtime'.

Earlier, captain Greg Rusedski gave the Chandigarh outfit a headstart with a 5-2 win against former world No.1 Thomas Muster of Raipur Rangers in the legends' singles. In the women's singles, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina beat Alize Cornet 5-1 to extend the home team's lead.

In the mixed doubles, Cornet teamed up with Agut to beat Svitolina-Baghdatis pair.  At 4-all, the set went into the tie-breaker, and the Rangers won it 5-2 to win the set 5-4. Despite the loss, Marshalls were still leading 14 games to 8. Baghdatis and Saketh Myneni then enhanced Marshalls' lead to 19-10 with a 5-2 win over Agut-Ramkumar Ramanathan in the men's doubles.

Marshalls next play Mumbai Tennis Masters on Saturday. Marshalls have an advantage over Mumbai, having defeated them (21-19) in their home leg.

RESULTS: Greg Rusedski bt Thomas Muster 5-2, Elina Svitolina bt Alize Cornet 5-2, Elina Svitolina/Marcos Baghdatis lost to Alize Cornet/Roberto Bautista Agut 4-5, Baghdatis/Saketh Myneni bt Agut/Ramkumar Ramanathan 5-2, Baghdatis lost to Agut but won in overtime.