IPTL: Serena Williams, Agassi And Rafter To Headline Singapore Slammers
The IPTL brings together NBA-style entertainment and world-class tennis, featuring the best current and past ATP and WTA champions in a team tennis competition from November 28 until December 13, 2014.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: September 25, 2014 06:07 PM IST
Tennis fans and entertainment seekers can look forward to seeing tennis superstars Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, and Patrick Rafter teaming up with the Singapore Slammers for the Singapore leg of the inaugural International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), which is set to liven up the Singapore Indoor Stadium from December 2 to 4. (Also Read: Federer Replaces Injured Nadal)
The second stop of the four-city tour - sanctioned by the ATF - promises a dose of exciting sporting competition with the Singapore Slammers vying for top honours and a US $1 million prize purse against the Manila Mavericks, Indian Aces and UAE Royals.
The IPTL brings together NBA-style entertainment and world-class tennis, featuring the best current and past ATP and WTA champions in a team tennis competition from November 28 until December 13, 2014.
A star-studded line-up of 24 champions has committed to play in Singapore. In addition to current world number 1 Serena, Agassi and Rafter, notable players include Tomas Berdych, Daniela Hantuchova, Bruno Soares, Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Kyrios, Ana Ivanovic, Eugenie Bouchard, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, Goran Ivanisevic, and Carlos Moya. (Read: See the Taj Mahal, Indian Fans Tell Federer)
Breaking the code of traditional tennis, the IPTL introduces a five single-set match format where every set features a different player in a different category (men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles and past champions singles).
The unique scoring system - in which every game counts, and the team that wins the most games from the five sets, wins the match - is only one of many special features to keep the intensity of the tournament up, until the last point.
"I wanted to bring new ideas and innovations to tennis and expose the best players to parts of Asia which have traditionally not been featured in the tennis calendar; by creating a shorter match format, we aim to attract new fans to our sport.
"Secondly, for the first time, broadcasters are able to schedule matches and announce player line-ups, while fans are able to see the biggest past and present stars up close and personal, all within a three-hour match play," said Mahesh Bhupathi, Founder and Managing Director of the IPTL.
The IPTL is set to kick off on November 28 in Manila before moving to Singapore (2-4 December), Delhi (6-8 December), and culminating in the UAE (11-13 December).