The second season of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) kicks off Wednesday, with the UAE Royals taking on the Singapore Slammers at the Kobe World Hall in the Japanese city of Kobe, before the home team Japan Warriors take on champions Indian Aces in the later match-up. The Philippine Mavericks join the action Thursday.
What is the IPTL?
A brainchild of Indian doubles star Mahesh Bhupathi, the team competition has attracted some of the sport’s biggest names such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. The second season will see five franchisee-owned teams: Philippine Mavericks, Singapore Slammers, Indian Aces, UAE Royals and newcomers Japan Warriors.
Photo gallery: Meet Roger Federer and the UAE Royals along with the other IPTL players
What is the format?
– Each tie will consist of five single-set matches: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles and past champion singles. Each game won will be worth one point and the team to have won the greater number of games at the end of those five matches will be the winners of the tie.
– If both teams have won the same number of games, the winners will be decided by a 13-point tie-breaker, or "shoot-out". The first team to win 7 points (6-6 final point) win the shoot-out and hence the set. Unlike last year, there is no time limit on the shoot-out.
Schedule of play: Kobe, Japan
Wednesday
– Singapore Slammers v OBI UAE Royals (11am UAE time)
– Indian Aces v Japan Warriors (2.30pm UAE)
Thursday
– Philippine Mavericks v Singapore Slammers (11am UAE)
– UAE Royals v Japan Warriors (2.30pm UAE)
Friday
– Indian Aces v Singapore Slammers (11am UAE)
– Philippine Mavericks v Japan Warriors (2.30pm UAE)
Other venues
– Manila (Sunday-Dec 8)
– New Delhi (Dec 10-12)
– Dubai (Dec 14-16) It will take place at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. For tickets, visit www.platinumlist.net
– Singapore (Dec 18-20)
akhaled@thenational.ae
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