The Indian Aces began their 2016 International Premier Tennis League campaign on a successful note defeating the Japan Warriors 30-17 at the Saitama Arena, in Tokyo.

Kirsten Flipkens gave the perfect of starts to the Aces, defeating Kurumi Nara 6-2 in the women’s singles. Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna followed this up with a win over Jelena Jankovic and Jean-Julien Rojer in the mixed doubles, defeating the Serbian-French team 6-5, after winning the shoot-out, 7-5.

Mark Philippoussis clinched the legend’s singles set over Marat Safin 6-3, while Ivan Dodig and Feliciano Lopez trumped Rojer and Fernando Verdasco 6-2 in the men’s doubles. In the final set, Lopez overcame two breaks of serve to win against Verdasco, in yet another shoot-out.

Earlier, the first match of this year’s IPTL saw the UAE Royals rout the defending champions, the Singapore Slammers 29-19. The Royals won four of the five sets, with their sole loss coming in the mixed doubles. Kiki Bertens and Marcelo Melo, who teamed up for the Slammers, defeated the Royals’ team of Martina Hingis and Daniel Nestor, 8-5.