DUBAI // Roger Federer hopes to use home advantage this week as he aims to lead UAE Royals to victory in the Dubai leg of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL).
The three-day UAE leg of the franchise-based competition begins on Monday at Dubai Tennis Stadium, a venue where the Swiss world No 3 has won seven Dubai Duty Free Tennis titles.
Federer played for Indian Aces last year in the first IPTL season, but he switched to the Royals for 2015.
“I really enjoyed myself last year. India was amazing. We had a great time and a wonderful team. The atmosphere was crazy,” said Federer, who led the Aces to the title, speaking in Dubai on Friday. “I didn’t know what to expect. I was pacing around the court a little bit, not sure if I was doing everything correctly according to the new rules. It was a lot of fun and, as I’m based out of Dubai, it’s really near for me to go to.”
Saturday marks the end of the Delhi leg and the action will move to Dubai on Monday, with Federer set to meet Andy Murray of Singapore Slammers on Tuesday.
“I definitely think it’s good for me to play here. It’s been a great hunting ground for me, so I’m very happy to be playing here,” Federer said. “Because I spend quite a bit of time here throughout the year, I’m very pumped playing for the Royals here now on two occasions.
“We have important matches ahead of us because we’re not first right now. We need to catch up and we need to do that quickly. It’s important for the people to know that the IPTL is coming to the UAE and that we have a great time. I think it’s really worth it to come out to the stadium and see it. I think you have to see it for yourself to understand what it’s about and give the IPTL a chance and support it, especially your home team.”
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After the inaugural IPTL season, some players said the action was more competitive than they had anticipated, and Federer says he is taking the tournament seriously.
“Exhibitions have sometime tendencies to be hit-and-giggle,” he said. “You play differently, you try and hit trick shots. Some exhibitions want some fun and others want to see you play. Usually, I feel when I go play exhibitions, they want to see a lighter side of me. But they want to see me play proper tennis, because maybe many people haven’t seen me play. So I was prepared that it was going to be somewhat competitive but, because every game counted, it made it a very serious event but with a fun aspect like the team behind you.”
The IPTL has a special set of rules designed to make the game quicker and more exciting, but Federer does not see any cross-over of its ideas into ATP tour events in the near future.
“I see it as more of a standalone event,” Federer, 34, said. “Obviously it’s very creative. It’s got a lot of new ideas and I like the team aspect. We are pretty lonely on the tour in some sense. I’m not because I have a wonderful team around me and my family, so I’m not alone. But to have guys sitting court side is quite different for us, and I really enjoyed that.”
Federer does not think it is a big issue either if the ATP is not fully supportive of the IPTL.
“It’s OK. Look, we have different bodies in our sport and I’m the No 1 supporter of the ATP. I used to be the president of the council for years,” Federer said. “They’re doing great and they need to focus on what they’re doing. I think they’re cool with it. Maybe in a perfect world they’d like to see the players rest for three months. In my opinion, we see less walkovers, less walkouts. But the important thing is that the players are happy.”
Remaining IPTL schedule
– New Delhi, today
– Dubai (Dec 14-16) It will take place at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. For tickets, visit www.platinumlist.net
– Singapore (Dec 18-20)
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