It is four teams and a galaxy of tennis stars who will whet every fan’s appetite. For most of the fans who are used to following the Grand Slams on television, it will be absolute world class entertainment in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) over the next three days at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here.
Mahesh Bhupathi, who had won the first Grand Slam title for India in 1997, the mixed doubles with Rika Hiraki of Japan, will henceforth be known to the world as an entrepreneur who has pulled off the most spectacular tennis show, if the success of IPTL is anything to go by in its first two stops in Manila and Singapore.
Federer, Sampras in townThe fact that the all-time greats like Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, apart from Novak Djokovic will specifically be coming to Delhi, shows the importance that the multiple Grand Slam champion Mahesh has placed on the Indian show.
“It is one of the best things that I have done in my life. I love playing the IPTL. The team spirit was just incredible,” said Serena Williams after the Singapore event, after she squeezed time amidst her elaborate preparation for the Australian Open.
Some of the players like Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray and Serena herself may not be part of the Indian leg, but there will be too many stars for the fans to miss anyone! Federer may not play in other cities, owing to the prohibitive cost factor, as Mahesh was candid to stress. The IPTL has proven that there is room for such novelties despite the packed calendar, and the four Grand Slams that hog all the attention.
“We have carved out our space in the tennis calendar and we are very happy about that,” Mahesh said, half way through the league.
“It is also good for the future of the sport,” said Andre Agassi, as he appreciated the vision in masterminding such a venture on such a global scale.
“We don’t get many sparring matches against the girls in the off-season. Also, to have a little fun and enjoy the team atmosphere, because time during off-season is hard work,” said Ana Ivanovic, as she captured the essence of the whole exercise.
Fun exerciseEven though winning and losing may not mean much, the champions rarely like to lose. It may be a fun exercise, but the players often find themselves thoroughly engrossed and fighting their best.
Micromax Indian Aces that has Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, along with Gael Monfils, Fabrice Santoro, Ana Ivanovic, and waiting to add Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, has reached the top of the table with 20 points. It is followed by UAE Royals and Manila Mavericks with 17 points each, while Singapore Slammers is fourth with 14 points.
In the matches, it is the number of games won that counts in deciding the winner after five rubbers of one set each. The winning team gets four points and the losing team gets points from 0 to 2, according to the number of games it wins.
The whole concept has given a new dimension to tennis entertainment, and it is now the turn of the Delhi fans to soak in the atmosphere.
