Falcons and Hawks Edge Out Kites and Eagles in Day 2 battle at World Tennis League
Abu Dhabi, December 20, 2024 – The Game Changers Falcons secured their second straight win in the World Tennis League Season 3, narrowly defeating the Kites 24-21 in a gripping Match 4 at Etihad Arena. With this victory, the Falcons climbed to the top of the points table with 53 points, keeping their unbeaten run alive.
The women’s doubles set saw a fierce battle, as Simona Halep and Jasmine Paolini gave the Kites an early edge by breaking serve in the opening game. However, Elena Rybakina and Caroline Garcia of the Falcons regrouped to push the set to a tiebreak at 6-6, eventually clinching it 7-6 to give their team a narrow lead.
Rybakina continued her stellar form in the women’s singles, controlling the pace of the set against Halep. The Falcons’ star never allowed Halep to find her rhythm, closing the set 6-4 and extending the Falcons’ lead to 13-10.
The mixed doubles set paired Nick Kyrgios and Jasmine Paolini against Caroline Garcia and Denis Shapovalov. The set saw incredible rallies and thrilling moments, with Kyrgios and Paolini eventually prevailing in a tight 7-6 battle. Their win brought the Kites closer, narrowing the overall score to 17-18.
In the deciding men’s singles, Andrey Rublev delivered a composed performance against Kyrgios. After breaking Kyrgios’ serve to take a 4-2 lead, Rublev maintained control and closed the set 6-4, securing the Falcons’ 24-21 win and cementing their position at the top of the standings.
Following the match, Kyrgios expressed his excitement about the league format: “Every game counts in the World Tennis League. I love the mixed doubles format—it’s incredible to be on the same side of the net as someone like Paolini. For me, this is the perfect return, just the right amount of tennis without feeling overwhelming.”
Earlier in the day, the TSL Hawks claimed a decisive 21-14 win over the HonorFX Eagles, moving to second place on the leaderboard with 47 points.
With two action-packed days in the books, the World Tennis League continues to captivate fans at Etihad Arena.