ANDY MURRAY HEADS TO PHILIPPINES TO PLAY IPTL , THEN HE IS OFF TO MIAMI TO TRAIN FOR 2015 AND AUSTRALIA SUMMER

Written by: Staff on 24th November 2014

BNP Paribas 2014 Masters Tennis Tournament

ANDY MURRAY HEADS TO PHILIPPINES TO PLAY IPTL , THEN HE IS OFF TO MIAMI TO TRAIN FOR 2015 AND AUSTRALIA SUMMER

epa04471550 Andy Murray of Britain returns to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their quarter final match at the BNP Paribas 2014 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 31 October 2014. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

Andy Murray says he’s ready to brush off his crushing end to last season and carry on as planned by playing three exhibition matches halfway around the world as the International Professional Tennis League goes begins the countdown to its fortnight-long season starting this weekend.

Britain’s Andy Murray returns to Switzerland’s Roger Federer during a round robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals mens tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 13 November 2014. EPA/ANDY RAIN

The Scott was roundly thrashed, winning just one game against Roger Federer at the World Tour Finals. But instead of burying his head, Murray told Scotland’s Herald that after competing in Asia for the Philippine IPTL side, he will head to his regular training base in Miami to prepare for 2015.

Murray is signed for a presumably fat fee by the Manila entry in the reduced four-team league, which features current and former ATP and WTA players in a one-set format designed to please fickle tennis consumers in the region.

Others who are jetting to Asia for brief playing appearances include Federer, Novak Djokovic, legends Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras plus Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams on the women’s side.

Murray has convinced himself that the undertaking is serious. “It’s going to be different to exhibitions because I think the owners of the teams will want the players to play properly. They will want the players to play a high level and to try to win. They’re obviously investing a lot of money in it.”

The IPTL format will feature a shot clock will to keeps tabs on time-wasting between serves so-called “power points” (which count double). Tiebreaks are replaced by “shoot-outs” and live music will be part of the program to keep punters entertained.

Each rubber will comprises five sets (different players in each set), with a four-minute shoot-out for any 5-all situation. IPTL officials grandly claim their hybrid format will “change the face and format of the game”.

Murray’s handlers say the Asian competition will only help their man as he heads to his intense training in Florida for the upcoming season, where he will be keen to improve a sixth-place ATP ranking.

Andy Murray of Britain reacts during his round of sixteen match against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria at the BNP Paribas 2014 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 30 October 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT

Content via Bob Larson tennis news.

Topics: Andy Murray, IPTL, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

November 24, 2014 at 9:43 am

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