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Carlos Moya and Mark Philippoussis are familiar combatants. They were born within months of each other in 1976. Their careers overlapped on the ATP tour. They shared the six matches they played against each other from 1997 to 2003 equally. Once, back in 1999, they played a bruising five-set final in Indian Wells that the big Australian won. Those memories are locked away from a more high-profile time in their lives, a time they can only look back on and reminisce about.Except on this Sunday, as they bustled on to the court in Hyderabad, they had the chance to taste their rivalry again, if only for a fleeting few moments. Moya and Philippoussis were the opening act of the final of this seasons International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in Hyderabad. They would take each other on in the mens legends singles to get us going. As a prelude, a boisterous song-and-dance routine had done its bit to lift an arena peppered with a smallish crowd. Local girl Sania Mirza joined in as did Lara Dutta, the film-star wife of IPTL founder Mahesh Bhupathi, the former Indian doubles star. The fun had been had, but it was the games that would determine the course of this day.This, the third season of the IPTL, had been uncertain and chaotic. On the eve of the final, Bhupathi admitted to ESPN that they had battled several challenges and that he had been upset and embarrassed at the minuscule ticket sales on their first-ever stopover in Hyderabad. Once the promise of Roger Federer and Serena Williams appearing evaporated, the tepid response was only to be expected. Yet, Bhupathi insisted the quality of tennis over the previous two legs in Tokyo and Singapore had been amazing and the final would be intensely competitive.So back to our legends to put Bhupathis claims to the test. Time away from the competitive grind has been kinder on Moya. He is resplendent in a bright orange shirt, flowing locks and a signature headband to hold them in place. He shows soon enough that he still commands the smarts with a racquet in hand. Philippoussis is dazzled as lobs clear him at the net, as Moya scrambles in the backcourt to retrieve balls and cunningly shimmies backhands behind him. The Aussie is sweating and panting even as the Spaniard is bubbling with the zest of a tyro.The scoring pattern in the IPTL attaches value to every game won and Moya gives his team, the Singapore Slammers, an early advantage. 6-4. Philippoussis meanders back disconsolate to his bench at the end of the set. His team, the Indian Aces, have won both previous clashes against the Slammers this season, but this has been a stumbly start.The construct of the IPTL inverses the usual routine of tennis. Team members crowd around the player in action at changeovers, they holler advice and encouragement from the sidelines, they create an all-for-one, one-for-all environment. Sania Mirza says no one wants to lose and let the rest of the team down. Goran Ivanisevic, who turns out for the UAE Royals, says the pressure one experiences in a setting such as the IPTL is unique as players are desperate not to be the reason for the teams defeat.Nick Kyrgios, a forlorn outsider with well-documented disciplinary problems on the regular circuit, is a steam of energy on the Slammers bench. He rises at the end of each victorious point, he high-fives with great relish. For Kyrgios, turning up in the IPTL is to fulfill a sporting fantasy he had as a kid that tennis snatched away.I always look forward to the IPTL and the new faces on the team have been key, he says later. You make new friends, you have this team spirit that the IPTL offers and we have had such a good chemistry. We have been supporting each other during the whole competition. I love team sports. I love watching and also playing. Everyone supported me this week and that makes it more fun, more enjoyable.Bhupathi and his staff expect this whole-hearted thumbs-up from the players to count as a significant plus in their favour as they aim to emerge from the difficulties of this season. Over the course of the next few months, they will consider the reset needed to ensure the IPTL stays afloat. Financial considerations are paramount. A source in the management team admits significant losses have been accumulated this season. Player costs constitute nearly 70% of the expenditure but there is no way around that.Without star power, attracting big audiences in arenas or sizable TV audiences will be a non-starter. While that is a non-negotiable, some of the questions the IPTL will grapple with before putting the next season together are the length of its schedule -- coming as it does at the back end of a long season -- the number of cities they must play in and whether to restrict themselves to what Bhupathi calls the three biggest markets in Asia. There is talk of expanding beyond the continent as well, though that is at a nascent stage for now. Within the leadership groups, conversations have already begun to ensure a greater number of big stars commit to the event in 2017.The final provided a glimpse of the IPTLs potential to be a sporting competition of merit. An inspired Slammers outfit sizzled in the sets following Moyas victory over Philippoussis, including a surprisingly one-sided defeat handed out to the star Indian pairing of Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles by Marcelo Melo and Kiki Bertens. The final scoreline read 30-14, again unexpectedly lopsided. As the trophy went up in the hands of an elated Slammers outfit, the men and women behind the scenes heaved a visible sigh of relief.At times in recent months, it hadnt seemed possible. But the IPTL has lived -- and it intends to fight another day. Dakota Hudson Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Roger Maris Jersey .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/624t-genesis-cabrera-jersey-cardinals.html .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Gussie Busch Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Junior Fernandez Cardinals Jersey . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa State coach Matt Campbell arrived in Ames promising to change a culture accustomed to losing.Campbells debut ended with a crushing defeat that looked like so many the Cyclones have suffered in the past.Aaron Bailey threw for 135 yards, ran for 114 more and had two touchdowns as Northern Iowa rallied to beat Iowa State 25-20 Saturday and spoil Campbells first game with the Cyclones.UNIs JVeyon Browning scored from 1 yard out with 2:49 left after a Joel Lanning interception, putting the Panthers ahead by five.Cyclones running back Mike Warren fumbled it right back to Northern Iowa, and Lannings final pick with 1:10 left sealed what could hardly be considered an upset for Northern Iowa.Its really hard for us right now to play behind the chains. We have to have the ability to play in positive situations. When youre not in those, you start pressing and then turnovers and those things happen like they did in the second half, Campbell said.Lanning finished with 256 yards passing, three touchdowns and those two costly interceptions.The Panthers scored touchdowns after an Iowa State safety, fumble and interception in beating the Cyclones for the second time since 2013.THE TAKEAWAYIowa State: The Cyclones reworked and inexperienced offensive line, down a starter to suspension, looked shaky at best in its first performance. Iowa State couldnt get their ground game going, as Warren had just 30 yards on 12 carries. That left the Cyclones unable to sustain drives, which kept its defense on the field longer than it needed to be. Iowa State was also killed by penalties, nine for 89 yards, which wiped out big gains by its offense. It makes it hard for an offensive line when youre second and 20 and third and 20. We put our offensive line in some really tough spots and that hurt those guys, Campbell said. Lanningg made three big throws for TDs, but his inexplicable fourth-quarter interceptions cost the Cyclones dearly.ddddddddddddNorthern Iowa: The Panthers entered play ranked fifth in the FCS -- and they showed why theyll likely be a national title contender. Northern Iowa made the Cyclones pay for their mistakes and made the plays down the stretch that their FBS rivals couldnt.NOTABLESIowa State: Cyclones wide receiver was brilliant yet again in a losing cause. He had six catches for 129 yards and a 33-yard TD reception that, had Iowa State not caved in crunch time, could have been the game-winning grab. ...Tackle Julian Good-Jones was suspended for the game for violating team rules. Even though hes just a redshirt freshman, the Cyclones couldve used the help. ...Receiver Hakeem Butlers first career catch was a one-hander from 18 yards out that went for a touchdown.Northern Iowa: Tyvis Smith rushed for 68 yards on 17 carries and caught five passes for 43 more. ...Punter Sam Kuhter averaged 44 yards on eight tries, pinning Iowa State inside its own 20 on three of them.THE LAST WORDWe felt like we let them outperform us tonight. We know our capability. We definitely didnt meet our potential, Lazard said.UP NEXTIowa State: The Cyclones will travel to Iowa City to face rival Iowa, ranked 17th. The Hawkeyes had some issues defensively, but their offense averaged eight yards a play as they rolled 45-21 over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. Iowa State has beaten Iowa more than once after looking sluggish in its opener, but itll likely be a big underdog against the defending Big Ten West champion.Northern Iowa: The Panthers host Montana, ranked No. 13 in the FCS, in a key non-conference showdown in Cedar Falls. ' ' '