Asian Tennis League Could Have A Bearing On The Australian Open

Written by: Staff on 3rd April 2013

Asian Tennis League Could Have A Bearing On The Australian Open |

The Australian Open would be the major event most affected by the new proposed Asian Tennis League, with players possibly coming into the year’s first Grand Slam tournament with the effects of playing throughout the close season. But tournament Craig Tiley maintains he is in full support of Mahesh Bhupathi’s plans.

Tiley revealed Bhupathi has kept him informed of all the plans for the league that would feature the current top male and female players as well as legends from the not too distant past. And he said: “As an organization, we support anything that will put more money into the back pockets of players.

“It will create more global interest in the sport beyond the traditional tennis fan. Tennis needs a big uplift in compensating players beyond the grand slams. Anything that brings investment and funding, we support that.”

The Australian Open is traditionally termed the Grand Slam of Asia and the Pacific.

Tiley told The Australian newspaper: “There would be some cross promotion, some partner opportunities. We have already sat down with Mahesh and we are in the process of exploring what those opportunities can be.

“I think he has been talking to all of the top players. Sam Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt in particular. And I know Pat Rafter will be a target. It is good for them and their profile in the Asia region.”

The event would be played on a similar format to Team Tennis in the United States so the traveling between matches that are planned to involve four Indian cities along with Doha in Qatar and Thailand’s capital Bangkok would probably be more grueling than the match play itself.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Asian Tennis League, Australian Open, Craig Tiley, Lleyton Hewitt, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sam Stosur, Sports, Tennis News