DUBAI // Some of the stars of world tennis are in Dubai this week to take part in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL).
The UAE Royals, led by Roger Federer, are hoping to put the disappointment of the India leg behind them in front of their own fans.
On Thursday, the UAE Royals lost 24-21 to the Japan Warriors and, despite bolstering their players’ list with Federer on Saturday, went down 30-19 to the hosts India Aces. It leaves the Dubai-based team in third position out of five, albeit from six matches compared to the rest of the teams’ seven.
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Roger Federer tells Dubai fans ‘it is worth it to come’ and watch IPTL matches
It was a weekend to forget for the Royals as the team fell short in all five sets against the champions with Federer going down 6-5 to Rafael Nadal.
“I had a slow start and Rafa already played a match here,” Federer said. “The season’s just beginning, so I’m bound to be a bit rusty. Considering those circumstances, I played pretty well.
“Overall it was a great experience. It’s a strange kind of pressure, because in the IPTL format, it could be a blowout and then you realise it was your only chance. We’re both very happy it went the distance.”
On the opening day, the Royals take on the Philippine Mavericks in the evening match (7.30pm UAE) after the afternoon match between the Aces and the Warriors and a day later, Andy Murray’s Singapore Slammers will face Federer and company.
It is the second year that the IPTL has been hosted in Dubai, though the venue has switched to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium from the Hamdan Sports Complex.
The franchise-based competition was established last year with the aim of bringing top class tennis to a wider audience in Asia. Each team is headed by a marquee player and each match is made up of five sets in men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and the men’s legends singles.
Each game won is 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.
Online poll: Who will win IPTL Dubai match: Roger Federer and UAE Royals or Andy Murray and Singapore Slammers?
Federer has reiterated that the players are taking each match seriously and that the format does not allow for slacking off.
“What is an exhibition? Is it a kids’ day exhibition where one’s hitting with Scooby Doo or is it one where 15,000 people have paid to watch us play?” he said.
“It is the question of who is in the crowd. To me this is serious tennis with a fun aspect of having a team high five you continuously. Call it an exhibition or not, it’s a fun concept.
“The legends deserve a shout out as well, they’re playing at such a good level even now.”
akhaled@thenational.ae
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