Dubai The inaugural International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) is headed for a mouth-watering finale in the fourth and final round at the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Sports Complex this weekend.
The Micromax Indian Aces sit on top of the standings having accumulated 30 points after the three rounds in Manila, Singapore and New Delhi. However, both Musafir.com UAE Royals and Manila Mavericks are within striking distance of the Aces after being tied at 27 points in second place. The DBS Singapore Slammers are nearly out of the reckoning for the title with just 17 points to their credit.
The fast and furious format of the league had played out before packed stadiums across the three venues in Asia, with the organisers keen to combine the entertainment quotient along with some high quality action.
Perhaps keeping things alive for a grand finale was the UAE Royals and Manila Mavericks wins against leaders Indian Aces in New Delhi on Sunday.
The fight for the league honours is now wide open.
While the Aces will have their task cut out with them having to win all three matches in Dubai, the UAE Royals will definitely be trying to use home support and secure the points needed to be crowned new champions.
The Treat Huey-led Manila Mavericks, who have defeated the Aces and the Royals on two occasions each so far, will be hoping for an encore.
The IPTL has brought together current champions, legends and upcoming talent in a format that’s never been seen before. A brainchild of former doubles champion Mahesh Bhupathi, the league has been created to fulfil the increasing demand for top-level tennis in Asia and was played across four countries on the continent.
More than 80 players participated in the official draft held on March 2 in Dubai. With the exception of multiple Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, all the top players are involved in the competition, that features 21 Grand Slam Champions and 14 current and former world number ones.
The first round got underway in Manila on November 28, moved on to Singapore and then to New Delhi before this week’s finale in Dubai that is sponsored by Musafir.com, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), Transform, The Oberoi, Gulf News
and Channel 4.
At the end of the fourth and final round on Saturday, the champions of the inaugural Coca-Cola IPTL presented by Qatar Airways will walk away with a substantial part of the total purse of $1 million.
