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We’ve just witnessed the opening ceremony of the IPL cricket tournament, and for the next two months, the made-for-TV event will capture the hearts and minds of cricket fans across the world. The IPL owes its genesis and success to an Indian – Lalit Modi – who unfortunately is no longer associated with the sporting franchise.
Now, another Indian is planning something similar – this time in the world of tennis. And if he succeeds, he could create a league that could rival the IPL in terms of prize money, media attention and player interest. And that man is none other than Mahesh Bhupathi.
Reports have emerged that Bhupathi is the leading figure in discussions to start the International Tennis Premier League (ITPL). The league is being planned during the off-season (does tennis have one??) in the months of November and December in the Middle East. Cities in the Middle East will have their own franchises, much like Indian cities in the IPL cricket event.
And Bhupathi has been in discussions with all the top players for his proposal – Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on the men’s side and Serena Williams amongst others on the women’s side. It is likely that the event will begin in 2014, though there is a remote chance that things could fall into place for the 2013 off-season itself.
Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley told The Australian that the Indian doubles ace has kept Tennis Australia in the loop about his plans, since the league will take place before the first Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne.
“We are aware of it. He has kept us up to date with what is going on. I think he has been talking to all of the top [Australian] players. Sam [Stosur] and Lleyton [Hewitt] in particular … and I know Pat Rafter [the Davis Cup captain] will be a target. It is good for them and their profile in the Asia region. There would be some cross-promotion, some partner opportunities. We have already sat down with Mahesh and we are in the process of exploring what [those opportunities] can be. As an organisation, we support anything that will put more money into the back pockets of players. It will create more global interest in the sport beyond the traditional tennis fan. Tennis needs a big uplift in compensating players beyond the grand slams. Anything … that brings investment and funding, we support that.”
For years now, Bhupathi has been working on business ideas outside of the tennis court. His Globosport agency manages several Indian athletes and movie stars, and he also recently got into film production in Bollywood. If Bhupathi manages to pull this off, he could become one of the major power players in the world of tennis. And that can only be good for Indian tennis. One wonders what the AITA has to say about this.
