Chandigarh,21 Nov(PTI): Mumbai Tennis Masters defeated Punjab Marshalls 27-21 in a group match of Champions Tennis League (CTL) here.
The Marshalls had earlier lost their first match to Delhi Dreams.
The Marshalls fell behind in the northern group as they lost to Mumbai here yesterday night.
Delhi Dreams lead the group with 52 points while Mumbai are on 46.
Punjab have 40 points after the first two matches. After teams have played four matches each, on a home and away basis, the group topper will proceed to the CTL final on November 26.
Playing his first singles match since 2008, Leander Paes last night produced an inspired show but went down fighting to former French Open champion Sergi Bruguera as his Wave Punjab Marshalls team trailed 0-2 against Mumbai Tennis Masters in the Champions Tennis League.
Paes, who stepped in for an injured Greg Rusedski, as the ‘legend’ of the Punjab team, seemed to ride the wave of home crowd support. He fought back from 1-4 down, using the faster courts at the CLTA to his advantage to level 4-4.
At deuce, while serving at 4-5, Paes and the Punjab team used the free point rule to take the set into the tie-break.
Though Bruguera seemed handcuffed on the forehand side for most of the single-set match, he seemed much more in control of the rallies in the tie-break and ran away for a 5-2 winner.
Paes and Bruguera had started the evening on a nostalgic note, speaking about sharing the podium at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The Indian had won the bronze while Bruguera went home with a silver.
