MAHESH BHUPATHI WILL PULL OFF LEAGUE TENNIS IN INDIA

Written by: Staff on 24th September 2014

Indian Davis Cup team members pose for photos

MAHESH BHUPATHI WILL PULL OFF LEAGUE TENNIS IN INDIA

epa01308995 Indian Davis Cup team member Mahesh Bhupati poses for a photograph during a press conference in New Delhi, India on 09 April 2008. India and Japan are scheduled to play in the second round of Asia/Oceania Zone Group I match in New Delhi from April 11-13. EPA/MONEY SHARMA |

League Organizer Is Confident Of Success

Many doubts remain about the long-term prospects of the forthcoming International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) that is scheduled to begin at the end of November but Mahesh Bhupathi, the former ATP World Tour and Indian Davis Cup veteran who is fronting the new venture insists it has all the ingredients to be a great success.

Skepticism is rife because the ITPLs original concept of six or even eight teams has been forced to be trimmed to four, high profile players are confused over their obligations and some are maintaining they still haven’t even seen a contract to sign.

But speaking in New Delhi this week, Bhupathi insisted: Weve got the best players in the world backing it, so we have all the ingredients to succeed.

Earlier this week world no.1 Rafael Nadal was forced to pull out of the project but his long term rival Roger Federer was immediately announced as a replacement.

Mahesh Bhupathi (L) and Leander Paes of India returns the ball to Igor Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili or Russia during their Davis Cup match in Moscow, Russia 06 March 2010. EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV

Bhupathi, a four times Grand Slam doubles champion, added: In the initial stages, you need the biggest stars in the game playing and the IPL is testimonial to that. In our case, we have been very fortunate, because, we have literally got everybody involved.

So, we are looking forward to it. Also, we have a very big entertainment component to the league. We will have music, entertainment, fun for the whole family.

The Grand Slams will always be the four pillars of our sport, but I think a lot of people have been trying for many years to create a new property in tennis. So, we have created this now.

Bhupathi has believes his new venture can emulate the success of the Indian Premier League in cricket.

Editors note : for a first time event it was probably a good idea to scale it back to the four team format. It will be great and Mahesh is a man of action. Especially around a net.

Topics: Atp World Tour, Davis Cup, Federer, India, IPTL, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rafa, Tennis News

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September 24, 2014 at 10:12 am

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