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IPTL 2014 - 28 NOVEMBER IP: 49.146.180.98 Posted on November 28, 2014 at 11:30:30 PM by David Barnes
IPTL 2014 - MANILA
FRIDAY 28 NOVEMBER
This was the first day of the all-new 'Break the Code' International Premier Tennis League, founded by the retired Indian player Mahesh Bhupathi, which, after three days of play here in Manila, moves next week to Singapore, then to Delhi (the latter having taken over, mid-year, from the previously-listed Mumbai), before ending in Dubai on 13 December. It's a fabulous concept, which has had to battle against the usual cynicism from vested interests (the ATP, one suspects through gritted teeth, put out a statement many months ago, cautiously 'welcoming' the development), but by now most of the leading players, the great man Roger Federer himself included, have either signed up or shown a positive interest. Federer is part of the Indian Aces team, and will play in New Delhi, since the top 'icon' players were only required to commit to appearing in one of the cities involved.
The Manila Mavericks, the Singapore Slammers, the Indian Aces and the UAE Royals are the four teams of this 'new format' extravaganza, and the sight of present and past luminaries of the game courtside this afternoon, all giving a jolly good impression of enjoying every fast-forward minute of the on-court action, high-fiving each other generously at every opportunity, and expressing unbridled enthusiasm for the tournament in interviews and press conferences after their matches, bodes well for the event. The organisers have said in the past that their wealthy backers (prominent businessmen bid tens of millions of dollars in the spring to 'own' the different team franchises) do not expect to see a return on their investment(s) for several years at least, and the near-deserted ranks of spectator seating earlier today will have reinforced that impression. Not that the success of these sporting contests relies exclusively on ticket sales, as the ATP knows only too well - sponsorship and TV rights sales are what really matter.
In terms of sponsorship, Bhupathi has dome remarkably well, bringing first Coca-Cola, then Qatar Airways and Fed-Ex on board, with a host of supporting national commercial interests in each of the countries involved, and selling live TV coverage successfully; in this age of global TV audiences that means, to quote the IPTL website, that "the inaugural edition of the much-awaited Coca Cola International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) will be broadcasted [sic] in more than 125 countries across the globe".
The concept may be new, the format slightly different (for example, one contest (singles or doubles) per set, five sets between different combinations of players constituting a 'match', a deciding point on deuce, 'happiness power points' worth double, a five minute shoot-out at 5-5, shapely young women dancing at one end during changeovers, to name but a few), although one or two of the familiar problems besetting organised public events in this most friendly and chaotic of Asian cities persisted on the first day. Spectators with tickets were obliged to queue, to have the ticket exchanged for another entry pass, until the decision was, sensibly, made to abandon the system and let every ticketholder in anyway. Sadly few of them had made it courtside for the Fabrice Santoro v Pat Rafter match, which the Frenchman won 6-5, the Australian's penchant for double faults contibuting to his undoing, but which made for an entertaining and jovial, if undemanding, aperitif, before the later main courses of Carlos Moya v Goran Ivanesevic (6-5 to the Croat) and Andy Murray v Marin Cilic (another 6-5 Croatian victory).
The seats filled up noticeably by late afternoon, and the mainly Filipino crowd loved what they saw. The stadium was nicely warmed up by the time Andy Murray and the rest of his Manila Maverick teammates showed up for their encounter with the UAE Royals. Murray was wearing his sponsor's teeshirt, with its appropriately nuanced 'Kiss my adidas' slogan on the front; especially appropriate as he knocked up with Maria Sharapova, who received an ovation that shook the foundations of the Mall of Asia as if one of this country's many earthquakes was targeting the capital itself. The Scot said of the crowd in his post-match press conference; "We want to hear as much noise as possible", and we experienced it, pretty much at maximum volume, this afternoon.
The other pin-up poster girl here, Ana Ivanovic, playing for the Indian Aces, was positively effusive at her press conference after her match against Daniela Hantuchova; "I really enjoy my time out here today. The team spirit was great and I think that Fabrice [Santoro] is a great opponent. I hope the crowd will get even more involved". She cleverly dodged a tricky question from a local journalist about who her favourite fellow-Ace is, and said how much she'd enjoyed eating the national delicacy bibingka (it is an irrestible rice confection, with added coconut; the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Manila, sadly now closed for a major rebuild, used to cook the best in the city, in the opinion of many).
Based on this first day here, which can be accounted a qualified success, then as long as the sponsorship and rights money keep rolling in, the IPTL seems here to stay. The decision to switch the opening matches from Bangkok to Manila, in view of the 'uncertain' political situation in the former, has proved inspired, such is the warmth, the welcoming nature, the enthusiasm for entertainment, and the genuine fascination with sporting celebrity, of vast numbers of Filipinos. It was an inspired idea to parade those two surly pugilists Andy Murray and Manny Pacquiao before the cameras yesterday evening at the tournament's Gala dinner; the Media/PR department has already more than earned its money as far as the Manila leg of the contest is concerned.
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David Barnes/Topspin, 2014
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