Crazy stuff in Dubai!
An auction has been held in the desert city to decide which players are going to represent one of the 4 Asian cities during the upcoming International Premier Tennis League League. (IPTL)
What’s the IPTL
It’s a new idea from Mahesh Bhuphati. There will be 4 cities (Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore and Dubai) that will clash for the title. There will be the participation of both active players (males and females) and legends.
The league will be held between from Novermber the 28th to December the 14th.
The Auction
The 4 cities had to bid in an auction to win the players that would represent them. According to Bhuphati the overall figure spent in the Auction was a mind-blowing $24 millions.
The teams
These are the most representative players auctioned
Mumbai: Nadal, Monfils, Ivanovic, Sampras, Mirza, Bopanna and Santoro
Dubai: Djokovic, Wozniacki, Ivanisevic,
Bangkok: Murray, Azarenka, Tsonga
Singapore: Agassi, Serena Williams, Berdych
It is not very clear the dynamics of this league…
Apparently each team will chose a name and it will pick up its staff over the next few weeks.
Each team can get between 6 to 10 players and it will pay its players between $4 and $10 million.
Every tie will consist of five matches: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and legends singles.
Each match will be a one set affair with the no-ad scoring system.
Weird stuff… isn’t it?
