IPTL is not an Indian league, it’s an Asian property: Mahesh Bhupathi

Mumbai: International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) cannot be called an Indian league, its founder managing director Mahesh Bhupathi clarified on Tuesday though the new competition has borrowed heavily from the cricket-based IPL, especially in the franchise business model.

"This (IPTL) is not an Indian league, let's be clear about it. Teams are from Japan, UAE, Singapore, Manila and India," said the former Davis Cup doubles specialist on the sidelines of a media conference called to announce a host of new features - including brining a new team, Japan Warriors.

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Bhupathi said India should consider itself lucky to have quite a few players featuring in the league, whose second edition is to be held from December 2 till 20.

"India is one country which is fortunate to have many players involved. Singapore does not have one, UAE does not have one, Manila has one doubles players. In the context of property, it's an Asian property," said Bhupathi.

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India would be represented in the league by world's top-ranked woman doubles player Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna, who both will play for inaugural season winners Indian Aces, and veteran Leander Paes, who is to play for new team Japan Warriors.

Bhupathi announced at the conference that roping in of Spanish stalwart and multiple Grand Slam men's singles winner, Rafael Nadal, into the league was "very exciting, from the league's perspective. "He's one of the biggest men's stars in tennis," he said.

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Bhupathi said the league has made one important change in its format by adding the final between the top two finishers at the round robin stage. "The last two matches became inconsequential in Dubai (the last stop of the league in 2014). This year the top two teams play the final on the 20th after season gets over on the 19th (at Singapore)."

Bhupathi said that this year IPTL, with Coca Cola as its title sponsors, would be shown live in 154 countries, including the Philippines for the first time on free to air TV.

"I was in Manila yesterday (Monday) and for the first time in history in the Philippines they are putting tennis on free (to air) TV for the whole country to watch, because they know it's not going to go past three hours. The biggest complaint in tennis is you can't control the time of the match for broadcast. But in our format you can control the time," said Bhupathi.

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"We have done broadcast deals in 154 countries – from Brazil to South Africa to Scandinavia, everybody is showing it live. Last year the players loved it, broadcasters loved it and the sponsors came back. We have captured the (tennis) window now," he pointed out.

About player pull-out at a late hour, Bhupathi said it was a thing one has to live with in sport. "It's part of professional sport. If (Lionel) Messi is injured for the last three months, what are you going to do? It's the nature of the beast. We were lucky last year when Rafa (Nadal) pulled out we got Roger (Federer) in. If people pull out we always have someone on the sidelines who jumps in."

Indian Aces franchise team co-owner Gulshan Jhurani said at the media conference that though the league was successful in drawing in crowds in Delhi last year, they were thinking of expanding its reach by going to other cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru.

"In Mumbai the best option would be NSCI (indoor stadium) which has a capacity of less than one thirds of that of Delhi. In that case we may have to raise the ticket prices," he said.

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"We want to take it to different cities in India. As franchise team owners we are allowed to do it, provided we stay within the parameters prescribed," he explained, adding things would be seriously considered on this count only after the conclusion of season 2.

In season 2, the five-team league will be played in Japan (Dec 2-4), Philippines (Dec 6-8), India (Delhi, Dec 10-12), UAE (Dec 14-16) and Singapore (Dec 18 and 19) followed by the final on December 20.

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