Monday 5 December 2016 07:02, UK
The Indian Aces romped to an opening day victory against the Japan Warriors, winning all five sets in their International Premier Tennis League meeting.
The Aces were not blessed with Roger Federer's presence - the Swiss legend will join them later in the tournament - but still had enough to win 30-17 with a clean sweep in their opponents' home of Saitama.
Kirsten Flipkens got the Aces off to a perfect start with a 6-2 women's singles win over Kurumi Nara, before a 6-5 mixed doubles win by Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna against Jelena Jankovic and Jean-Julien Rojer.
In the 'past champions' set, Mark Philippoussis of the Aces got the better of the Warriors' Marat Safin 6-3.
Ivan Dodig and Feliciano Lopez then teamed up in the men's doubles to inflict a 6-2 defeat on Rojer and Fernando Verdasco.
The final set pitted Spanish pair Lopez and Verdasco against each other, and the former ran out 6-5 winner to deliver a fifth consecutive set for the away side.
In the other fixture, the UAE Royals beat the Singapore Slammers 29-19 after winning four of five sets.
The Royals' Goran Ivanisevic beat Carlos Moya in the 'past champions' set before Tomas Berdych overcame Nick Kyrgios in a set between two top ranked current players.
The Slammers, after losing four sets in a row, limited the damage by claiming an 8-5 mixed doubles result.
The IPTL returns on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 5am.
