Ahmedabad, Dec 12 (NationPress) The Gujarat Panthers celebrated their inaugural victory of the tournament, while the GS Delhi Aces reinforced their position at the top of the standings on the third day of the Tennis Premier League (TPL) Season 7. This thrilling day unfolded at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, featuring intense matchups and nail-biting finishes. The Yash Mumbai Eagles and SG Pipers also claimed victories in their respective contests.

The day commenced with the Yash Mumbai Eagles taking on the Hyderabad Strikers.

Carole Monnet initiated the Strikers' campaign with a stellar 16-9 win against Riya Bhatia in the Women’s Singles. Yet, Riya Bhatia and Niki Poonacha countered effectively, securing a 15-10 win over Carole Monnet and Vishnu Vardhan in the Mixed Doubles.

In the Men’s Singles, Damir Dzumhur earned his first tournament victory by overpowering Pedro Martinez 16-9. Together, Vishnu Vardhan and Pedro Martinez clinched a close 13-12 win against Damir Dzumhur and Niki Poonacha, but it was not sufficient as the Yash Mumbai Eagles triumphed 52-48.

The second match featured the Gujarat Panthers facing off against the Rajasthan Rangers. In the Women’s Singles, Ekaterina Kazionova showcased her prowess with a decisive 16-9 victory over Nuria Brancaccio. Kazionova then paired with Dhakshineswar Suresh in the Mixed Doubles, achieving a narrow 13-12 victory against Nuria Brancaccio and Anirudh Chandrasekar, propelling the Rajasthan Rangers into a temporary lead.

In a riveting Men’s Singles showdown, two top 50 players clashed. Alexandre Müller, ranked 46 globally, delivered a masterclass with a 17-8 victory over the world no. 26, Luciano Darderi. Müller and Anirudh Chandrasekar also secured a 14-11 win against Dhakshineswar Suresh and Luciano Darderi in the Men’s Doubles, culminating in a comeback victory of 52-48 for the Gujarat Panthers, marking their first win this season.

The third match of the day saw SG Pipers go head-to-head with the Chennai Smashers. Irina Bara emerged victorious with a close 13-12 win against Shrivalli Bhamidipaty in the Women’s Singles. However, Bhamidipaty and Rohan Bopanna responded powerfully in the Mixed Doubles, winning 16-9 against Irina Bara and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli.

In the Men’s Singles, Ramkumar Ramanathan triumphed with a 13-12 victory over Dalibor Svrcina. Despite Svrcina and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli's 15-10 win against Rohan Bopanna and Ramanathan in the Men’s Doubles, the SG Pipers clinched a narrow 51-49 victory.

In the day’s final match, the GS Delhi Aces, who were atop the leaderboard on Day Two, faced off against the Gurgaon Grand Slammers. Sofia Costoulas secured a 16-9 win against Sahaja Yamalapalli in the Women’s Singles. Costoulas and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan further extended the Aces’ lead with a 15-10 victory over Yamalapalli and Sriram Balaji in the Mixed Doubles.

In the Men’s Singles, Dan Evans fought hard for a 13-12 victory against Billy Harris. Concluding the action of the day, Evans and Balaji secured a 14-11 win against Nedunchezhiyan and Harris, solidifying the GS Delhi Aces' triumph with a 54-46 scoreline.

The Tennis Premier League stands as Asia's premier tennis league, showcasing India’s finest talent alongside international tennis icons. With the backing of tennis legends like Leander Paes, Sania Mirza, and Mahesh Bhupathi (CEO of SG Pipers), as well as Bollywood stars such as Rakul Preet Singh and Sonali Bendre Behl, TPL creates a unique amalgamation of sports, entertainment, and business leadership.