International Premier Tennis League 101– How Ana Ivanovic Stole My Son’s Heart

 
TENNIS NEWBIES
My family and I don’t know the first thing about tennis.  But even if  we were clueless about how the game is played and  were  hardly familiar with most of the tennis players who are coming to Manila, the chance to see them up close was too good to pass up. 🙂   After all,  even I know who MARIA SHARAPOVA  is and I’m certainly prepared to go cross-eyed watching the tennis ball go back and forth just to see her.  🙂
Outside the Arena on DAY 2 of the International Premier Tennis League Tour

 
YOU HAVE TO…
The first thing you must know about watching a tennis game is that there is a proper decorum.  You have to sit down while the match is being played , you have to keep quiet and you cannot heckle the players.  In fact, you cannot enter the court if the game has started already.  You have to wait until  the break to enter the arena.
There are four competing teams in the  2014International Premier League, namely : Singapore Slammers,  UAE Royals,  Manila Mavericks and Indian Aces.   Each team has a roster of tennis superstars  who will travel, play and showcase the game globally.

SECOND DAY HIGHLIGHTS
So there we were seated right behind the players. What a surreal experience!

FIVE HOURS FLEW BY
I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did watching the games. Well, half the time I was watching the players in the bench ! hahaha.  I wish though that the Manila Mavericks played better.  After all , they were in Manila and had the homecourt advantage so to speak.  But Carlos Moya stopped playing after five minutes of action against Fabrice Santorini.  Only to be replaced by ________ who played even worse.  Both Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova struggled with their games both in their single matches and when they teamed up.  At the end it was already painful to watch Maria getting creamed by the beautiful Ana Ivanovic. Maria grunted the whole time while Ana just smiled and even stuck her tongue out —-apparently having a great time.
I was most amused at my eleven year-old boy who at the start of the game kept on going to the Manila Mavericks players  to have his ball signed.  In the end though he was already cheering for the Indian Aces and couldn’t take his eyes off Ana.  “Mom, I would be so sad, if I don’t get Ana’s signature,” M said.  Naku, my boy has a new crush!  So, he sprang from his seat right after Ana’s game with Maria and “super nakipagsiksikan” with the other fans to get his big tennis ball signed. Minutes later, hair dishevelled, face flushed and with a very wide smile he says ” MOM! Ana signed my ball FIRST!!! WOOHOO!”  I have a feeling we’ll be watching more tennis games from now on. What a way to cap my birthday weekend!

(The next leg of the IPTL tour will be in New Delhi where Rodger Federer will play. At the end of the second day, the scores were UAE Royals 57 games won, Indian Aces 50 wins, Manila Mavericks 39 wins and Singapore Slammers 38 wins)
More exciting posts coming up!