Fourteen times grand slam winner Nadal dealt a big blow to
the fledgling tournament by pulling out of the Indian franchise citing
'health problems'.
"When you are
talking of profile as high as Rafa Nadal, there was probably only one
name that could have helped ease the pain and for us fortunately Roger
was available and we made it happen," IPTL founder Mahesh Bhupathi told reporters.
"Rafa has been hurt since Wimbledon, he has not played any
tennis. So obviously there was a risk there, in the format we have
neither party wanted to take a chance.
Nadal, who has a 23-10 head-to-head lead against Federer,
missed the U.S. Open last month after failing to recover from a right
wrist injury he sustained in practice.
"I am very disappointed to announce that I will not be
part of the first edition of the IPTL," Nadal, 28, said in a statement
from the organizers.
"I was looking
forward to representing Indian Aces and playing in front of fans in New
Delhi in the exciting new League.
"I wish the team the very best and hope to be back next year."
Getting Federer on
board was all the more satisfying for the organizers as the Swiss
great, the winner of a record 17 grand slam titles, had initially
appeared apprehensive of the league.
"Earlier on, when I was talking to the players a year and
half ago, Roger was expecting his set of twins. I don't think he could
be making too many commitments at that point," Bhupathi, the Indian
doubles specialist, added.
"Obviously now he is very sure about his schedule and we are very happy to have him play for India."
Federer joins retired American Pete Sampras, winner of 14
grand slam titles, in the Indian franchise of the four-team event,
scheduled to be played from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13.
"I'm really looking forward to making my first trip to New Delhi and playing for the Micromax Indian aces," Federer said in a recorded message.
Philippines,
Singapore and the United Arab Emirates are home to the other teams and
will each host a leg of the competition, styled on cricket's Indian
Premier League and offering $1 million prize money.
Men's world number one Novak Djokovic, his women's
counterpart Serena Williams, Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and former
women's top-ranked players Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Caroline
Wozniacki have also confirmed their participation.
The teams will
compete in men's and women's singles, men's and mixed doubles and a
men's legends singles with one set per match, and no advantage scoring.
Speaking on the tournament's viability, Bhupathi said he
expected the franchisees in India and Philippines to break even earlier,
maybe in the next two or three years.
"Each team is
going to be different. I think India and Manila will probably break even
before Dubai and Singapore because these are the markets where these
kind of stars have not been seen before.
"Singapore and Dubai are mature markets. Singapore has WTA Championship there and Dubai has Dubai Open."
IPTL chief operating officer Eric Gottschalk said the league might feature a fifth Asian franchise next year.
"We are trying to add one more team next year and possibly
the maximum we can have is eight teams by maybe 2017-18," he added.
The Delhi leg of the IPTL is scheduled from Dec 6-8.
Date: 22nd September 2014, Source: Reuters
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