Rafael Nadal will play for the Indian side in the second edition of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), where Japan Warriors will be the new franchise in the competition scheduled to start on December 2.
Roger Federer had played for the Indian team in the inaugural edition but this time the Swiss star will turn out for UAE Royals as the players draft was held here on Sunday.
Federer came to the Indian side in the inaugural edition after Nadal’s pull out and this time British star Andy Murray will not be part of any side.
Micromax Indian Aces retained home stars Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna apart from Frenchmen Gael Monfils and Fabrice Santoro. World No. 9 Agnieszka Radwanska and Croat Ivan Dodig are the new members of the team.
Indian men’s doubles star Leander Paes was picked by new team Japan Warriors and he has Russian Maria Sharapova, home star and world No. 4 Kei Nishikori, Marat Safin, Vasek Pospisil, Daniela Hantuchova and Lucas Pouille as his teammates.
India’s top singles player Somdev Devvarman was also part of the players draft but was not picked by any side.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who represented UAE Royals last year, has been picked by Singapore Slammers. He will have Nick Kyrgios, Carlos Moya and Belinda Bencic as his teammates.
Women’s world No. 1 Serena Williams, who played for Singapore last season, will play for Manila Maverics this time. Sabine Lisicki, Richard Gasquet, Mark Philippoussis are the other members of the side. — PTI