‘Revolutionary’ IPTL set for late 2014 launch

Tennis league to bear resemblance to its cricketing counterpart.

PARIS:

India’s 12-time Grand Slam doubles champion Mahesh Bhupathi lifted the lid on his plans for an International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), that is scheduled to stage its inaugural season at the end of 2014 in Paris.

Branded by world number one Novak Djokovic as potentially ‘revolutionary’, Bhupathi’s vision is for an elite competition that would feature the world’s best players participating for six, as of yet unspecified, franchises dotted throughout Asia.

Having seen the success of cricket’s Indian Premier League, an annual tournament headlined by several of the sport’s stars since 2008, the IPTL’s foundations bear a similar resemblance to that of its cricketing counterpart.

“Bringing the concept of entertainment to tennis is what I think we’re doing here,” said Bhupathi at a presentation in the French capital. “Six years ago the IPL was launched [in India] and it has become a rousing success. I think the fans accepted it amazingly, so did sponsors and television because it was kind of made-for-TV content,” he continued before explaining the IPTL’s proposed format.

Bhupathi revealed that fixtures would consist of five one-set matches lasting a duration of three hours in total, with teams comprised of between six and 10 players and total salaries for each franchise costing between $4million and $10million.

In addition to men’s and women’s singles, men’s doubles and a mixed doubles, a legends singles – featuring the likes of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter – would also be a part of each tie, with Bhupathi adding that the plans had been well received by television networks.

An auction is scheduled just prior to the Australian Open next January in Melbourne where players – who will be divided into five price categories based on their ranking, popularity or potential – will go to the highest bidder, with the league then set to take place from late November through the first few weeks of December.

“It’s revolutionary ... I really think it’s going to help the popularity of our sport even more,” was the verdict of Djokovic, while seven-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal also voiced his support.

On the women’s side, two-time defending Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka gave her backing, saying: “I think it’s amazing. It’s definitely a little bit different to what we do everyday. I’m really excited to be participating in it.”

Top-ranked Serena Williams, who has committed along with Maria Sharapova, also expressed her excitement at joining a cast of past and present stars.

“I’ve never played with these guys so it’s like a dream come true,” said Williams on the prospect of playing with some of the sport’s legends.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2013.