The Philippine Mavericks looked to be in deep trouble last week when their top two men’s singles players went down with injuries. The Mavericks have moved quickly though to pick up a pair of solid replacements to fill their shoes. With Milos Raonic and Richard Gasquet out, serve-machine Ivo Karlovic and former pro James Blake have stepped in to help carry the load for the Mavericks.
Injury-Plagued Mavericks
Last week, the Mavericks took a big hit when Raonic was forced out, when he aggravated a back injury sustained during the summer. Richard Gasquet stepped in to take over for Raonic, only to aggravate a back injury of his own that had ruined part of his 2015 season.
Milos Raonic during his 2012 US Open 3rd round win over James Blake/Photo: Paul Bereswill-Associated Press
With Raonic and Gasquet on the court, the Mavericks were 4-1 and in second place in the standings. However, the Mavericks would lose their next two matches after both were injured. That included a 30-12 beat down at the hands of the first-place Indian Aces. In those two matches, Edouard Roger-Vasselin was forced to play singles, losing both times. After losing Raonic and Gasquet, the Mavericks slipped from second to fourth in the standings.
The Replacements
Both Karlovic and Blake will be making their IPTL debuts. Karlovic will be taking over in men’s singles, while James Blake will share the legend’s duties with Mark Philippoussis. Blake will also be eligible to support Karlovic in the men’s singles if necessary.
Ivo Karlovic/Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Karlovic finished 2015 ranked 23rd in the world with one ATP title won on the season. James Blake, a former world number four and winner of ten career titles, retired in 2013 and has spent time playing on the ATP Champions Tour over the last two seasons. In an odd twist of fate, Blake is joining the Mavericks along with the man who handed him the final singles loss of his career. Karlovic beat Blake at the 2013 U.S. Open in a fifth set tiebreak in the first round.
The replacements have already paid off, as both Karlovic and Blake appeared in today’s match against the UAE Royals. Both won their respective sets to lead the Mavericks to a win. Blake beat Goran Ivanisevic, while Karlovic upset Roger Federer to clinch the match and end the Mavericks losing streak.