Is This Fast Enough For You? (New Twenty20 Style Tennis)

In what sounds like something from the past (US style team tennis) a new "twenty20" style team version of tennis is being proposed. From The Times (PPV but well worth it).

Tennis is preparing to go Twenty20 with a blast of quick, made-for-television sets starring the best players in the world.

The event is backed by the wealth of princes and governments across the Middle East and Asia and is to be installed by the end of the year in an effort to derive the maximum benefit from its present golden age.

A November launch is being readied for the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), a city-based franchise league that will showcase not only those winning today’s grand-slam tournaments, but also past stars. The planning is that the inaugural league will be played from late November until just before Christmas, with players criss-crossing Asia, as matches are played on a home-and-away basis.

It is understood that a number of the present crop of top names are already contracted to the IPTL and they will be auctioned — in much the same way as the Indian Premier League operates in cricket.

The players — with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray likely to become leading targets, as well as Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova — will have a base price under which franchise owners cannot bid. Roger Federer cannot figure this year after agreeing a second exhibition tour of South America at the end of the regular season, but may join next year if the league is successful.

The brainchild of the IPTL is Mahesh Bhupathi, a doubles specialist and the managing director of Globosport — promoted as India’s top sports, entertainment and new media conglomerate. Bhupathi is about to join Murray’s business team in a new advisory role and a spot leading one of the top franchises in Asia will undoubtedly help the Scot’s marketability.

There have been a few articles recently in The Times about events leading up to this. The first was about Murray not getting the sort of sponsorship deals that would usually be expected for a player of his achievements. Then reporting of new links between Bhupathi in a marketing role with Murray. And now this.

IMO Federer's "maybe later" means no thank you, they have no chance of getting Nadal and I can't believe Djokovic would sign for this. Therefore Murray will be the lead attraction.

I don't understand the relevance of the title

The concept sounds kinda fun, in the way that the Champions' Tour is a fun spectator event - I believe the concept is something like 1 set each of men's singles, women's singles, mixed doubles & legends singles. As with the Champions' Tour, it's ultimately meaningless.

I would be very surprised if any current player in serious contention for slams, particularly the AO, would want to forego their off-season training for this. Maybe if they reigned in their ambitions & just made it an alternative to the Abu Dhabi exo tournament (and possibly into Hopman Cup week, which is again a similar concept) they might.

"to be installed by the end of the year in an effort to derive the maximum benefit from its present golden age"

Also, maybe they don't need to rush this through to benefit from the "golden age" anyway. Just wait until they retire and the ATP has a bit of a lull, then set this up with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic & Murray and it will be even more marketable than it would now. Add Roddick in too for US interest, as there's so little prospect of a top US player in the short term.

YvonneT

I thought the title was obvious but if not. twenty20 cricket = a speeded up version of cricket. As to the reasoning this last bit from the article.


That Asia is being pinpointed as the focus for the league’s launch is no great surprise. The demand for tennis in countries such as Japan, India and Qatar is exceptional, but so is the need to make the matches shorter and more explosive, keeping as much tradition as possible on the one hand but bowing to the edgier desires of the youth.

tennis is not perceived to be quick enough for edgy youths...

Reading the articles leading up to this one I think it can be concluded that Murray will play.

Just so happens that the article was first published on April 1st.

Purely a coincidence, I'm sure ........

lags72 wrote:Just so happens that the article was first published on April 1st.

Purely a coincidence, I'm sure ........

I think most of you regular posters have figured out by now that old hawkie " isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer" lol

lags72.

Ha ha! absolutely not. But you are not the first to think it might be. This was Harman's response when someone else doubted this.

Harman. Somewhat overshadowed by Andy Murray's rankings rise, but is not prospect of tennis going Twenty20 fascinating? http://thetim.es/126W3JL

Swetha. Happy April's Fools Day to you too.

Harman. Absolutely not an April Fool

Harman. Initially targeted at Asia, a huge market for growth. Quick matches, excitement high, team format. It has value, surely

https://twitter.com/NeilHarmanTimes

Funny that you think it was April Fool though.

Funnier still that you swallowed it .........

hawkeye wrote:YvonneT
I thought the title was obvious but if not. twenty20 cricket = a speeded up version of cricket.

Ah, I know nothing about cricket. I was confused after all the talk of fast & slow surfaces.
It's not a bad concept as a little sideshow I don't think, the shortened format but with the team concept.
Still horrified at the thought of someone wasting their whole off-season flying around a large continent playing exos. It didn't seem to do Fed any good this year, for one thing (in terms of tour results anyway - probably did for his bank balance though and his image too).

I thought I'd seen this mentioned before April 1st - but I could be wrong.

Ha ha! This is not an April Fool. Here's more on the story

Andy Murray who drove himself to the brink of collapse in winning his first title of the year in Miami on Sunday, might find it difficult to argue burn-out as a reason for any future losses if he agrees to join an International Tennis Premier League (ITPL) mooted for the November-December off-season.

Sources confirmed on Tuesday that Murray is among several leading players approached by the former Indian doubles player, Mahesh Bhupati, to take part in the ITPL. It is a competition based on cricket's Indian Premier League, with team matches over three weeks and franchises in big cities across the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent bidding for players with budgets of up to $10m (£6.6m).

Is this milking the game? Indeed. And any participating players who complain about the workload of a season that runs for nearly 11 months will struggle to convince tournament organisers or fans they are hard done by – especially with prizemoney of $5m on offer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2013/apr/02/andy-murray-international-tennis-premier-league

I think Harman deserves an apology... and I would quite like one too. Actually I have just seen sportslovers contribution and maybe I deserve an apology after that?

Iain Carter was always at it on the BBC with some utter tripe 20/20 golf subsitute.

If there was one thing I'd like to see, but probably impossible, would be a huge field, knock-out competition with each match consisting only of a Match Tie-Break starting with 512 players or something.

Time will tell whether these reports have substance or not.

Personally I don't believe the idea makes any sense for current elite players, and nor do I believe it will happen.

If it does (in the format described), I will gladly acknowledge that my cynicism was misplaced.

When the first sentence you read in a report is incorrect, like that Guardian one quoted, it does make you wonder how much of the remainder is factual though.

round the world tennis

actually that would favour the fitter quicker players even more!

The new and improved format for ITF slams is this, I suppose.

Gulbis for a slam or Berdych or Monfils.

This sounds like an exhibition tour going after new money, with the illusion of competitive value. For the players to take this seriously, it would have to be for a lot more money than they make now, and I don't see how everyone they're talking about could be properly compensated for such an event without talking about astronomical sums - if someone were prepared to put up THAT much money, they'd buy a real tournament - or a couple.

This is how it all starts. Trust me, I am a cricket fan, I have seen this before. It starts out as rockstar tennis, next thing your friend from school is signed up for $600, 000

Next thing, minor players decide to stop playing regular season to stop playing Slams so they can be physically tuned for a good ITPL run.

Will be interesting to see what arises from this. I could see them getting Murray/Djokovic to sign up and play a couple of matches but i can't really believe that any of the top players will want to spend a full three weeks of their off-season touring around Asia.

I hate every single thing about this idea. For me twenty20 is ruining a sport i once loved, its sold its soul, tennis please don;'t do the same!

LuvSports- I completely agree mate. I dont think the top 10 will suddenly flock, but if lower ranked guys decide its an easier pay day. Then the ITF will have a feeder problem

Can't see this taking off. Just a dreaful idea.

Given the top guys put a lot into off court preparation I can't imagine any of the big 4 participating.

There is enough on the tour for players with exhibitions.

hawkeye wrote:YvonneT

I thought the title was obvious but if not. twenty20 cricket = a speeded up version of cricket. As to the reasoning this last bit from the article.


That Asia is being pinpointed as the focus for the league’s launch is no great surprise. The demand for tennis in countries such as Japan, India and Qatar is exceptional, but so is the need to make the matches shorter and more explosive, keeping as much tradition as possible on the one hand but bowing to the edgier desires of the youth.

tennis is not perceived to be quick enough for edgy youths...

Reading the articles leading up to this one I think it can be concluded that Murray will play.

Not sure why you think that only Murray would play. Has he said he would or is it just the article mentioned he had been approached, which is a very different thing

If not a April fool, then a very unlikely event - unless it has loads of ranking points

Murray has a link to Bhupathi, which might make it more likely he would support it in some way. Just can't see him spending half his off-season doing so.

kingraf wrote:LuvSports- I completely agree mate. I dont think the top 10 will suddenly flock, but if lower ranked guys decide its an easier pay day. Then the ITF will have a feeder problem

Good to hear that there are others not jumping on the t20 bandwagon. The IPL and that whole debacle with stanford just make me sad. It's all about test cricket, now there is the true test, stuff of legends!

LuvSports! wrote:

kingraf wrote:LuvSports- I completely agree mate. I dont think the top 10 will suddenly flock, but if lower ranked guys decide its an easier pay day. Then the ITF will have a feeder problem

Good to hear that there are others not jumping on the t20 bandwagon. The IPL and that whole debacle with stanford just make me sad. It's all about test cricket, now there is the true test, stuff of legends!

Unless you have the likes of Kerry Packer backup ITPL, it is hard to make it popular. In these days of 'instant' gratification, I wonder how many people have time for test cricket?

Like T20Cricket, T20Tennis will also become a 'slug-fest'.

Ja but, I think tennis, due to its scoring system, is the one sport that captivates you for hours on end.

Riskysports wrote:

hawkeye wrote:YvonneT

I thought the title was obvious but if not. twenty20 cricket = a speeded up version of cricket. As to the reasoning this last bit from the article.


That Asia is being pinpointed as the focus for the league’s launch is no great surprise. The demand for tennis in countries such as Japan, India and Qatar is exceptional, but so is the need to make the matches shorter and more explosive, keeping as much tradition as possible on the one hand but bowing to the edgier desires of the youth.

tennis is not perceived to be quick enough for edgy youths...

Reading the articles leading up to this one I think it can be concluded that Murray will play.

Not sure why you think that only Murray would play. Has he said he would or is it just the article mentioned he had been approached, which is a very different thing

If not a April fool, then a very unlikely event - unless it has loads of ranking points

riskysports. Did you read the main article? I did explain why I am of the strong opinion that Murray will play. The Times is an excellent source of information about the behind the scenes goings on in tennis. I don't always agree with the analysis and sadly it is behind a pay wall. As I explained there were a few articles leading up to this one. The first about Murray not getting the number and quality of sponsorship deals that would be expected for a player of his achievements and another about Murray and Bhupathi forging financial links (with the hope of increasing Murray's earnings). Then this about the twenty20 style tennis with Bhupathi the force behind it.

If you saw the derision that any speculation about Murray risks from his vigilant fans including this little gem.

sportslover wrote:

I think most of you regular posters have figured out by now that old hawkie " isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer" lol

You might understand why I don't always feel encouraged to share such articles.

But saying that it's funny how so many not just here but generally greeted the news first as an April fool and then as to put it bluntly a load of rubbish. Given this perhaps the idea may be quietly shelved and Murray and Bhupathi will have to come up with other ideas for making cash. If I find out anything should I share any info here? Mmm... I'm not sure.

If this idea gets off the ground I would be surprised and disappointed if Murray took part whilst still a top player (somewhere further down the line maybe). He really puts great store by his training camps in Miami in November/December and this has set him up well for competing at the AO over the past few years. Being part of this idea would disrupt that.

So Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic to do the cheer leaders role, and perform some leg lifting dance moves when somebody strike an ace or win a spectacular game?

Wow that would so tasty an event then, I am booking my tickets

Ha ha! Serena and Sharapova have no need to act as cheer leaders or indeed go anywhere near this April Fool joke tour to earn their crust. Isn't Maria the top earning female player as far as sponsorship deals go? I believe The twenty20 idea comes from Globosport a company created to help Murray increase his earnings. More from The Times today.

As first revealed in The Times ten days ago, Murray’s management group, XIX Entertainment, has signed with Mahesh Bhupathi, the Indian player, to form a company called XIX Globosport, designed to “extend relationships and create dynamic new opportunities in developing markets around the world” for the world No 2.

Murray is the venture’s first client and will employ Ugo Colombini — the Italian agent who manages Juan Martín del Potro of Argentina — to provide “on-ground support and specialist resourcing”. The upshot is that XIX Entertainment needed someone with a greater understanding of how to maximise Murray’s marketability and persuade more companies to invest in him.

If Murray does do this, I too would be disappointed


HE - Sometimes the reasons people jump on your comments is they are so used to you making up angles to belittle Murray, they now expect it I am afraid. Now factual stories are taken with a pinch of salt

she ignores those comments RS, its a talent of HE's

kingraf wrote:Ja but, I think tennis, due to its scoring system, is the one sport that captivates you for hours on end.

In the US, MLB, NFL, NBA also have unique scoring systems. Spectators prefer 3-4 hours due to lack of attention span.

US NASCAR is an exception, as they seem to organise tail-gate parties and have an all-day family outing style events before the races.

I used watch 5-day test cricket growing up. Unless there is a strong-rivalry like India-Pakistan, or England-Australia (aka Ashes), it is tough to sell such events.

hawkeye wrote:IMO Federer's "maybe later" means no thank you, they have no chance of getting Nadal and I can't believe Djokovic would sign for this. Therefore Murray will be the lead attraction.

Well it seems that the IPTL is on the cards for the end of 2014 and guess who is speculated to be committed...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/rafaelnadal/10659668/Rafael-Nadal-cashes-in-with-controversial-new-International-Premier-Tennis-League.html

Fair enough if he wants to earn money this way, though I still have the concern that it's not the ideal way to prepare for the season for the slam contenders.

As for all the other players, it appears they are very much hedging their bets at the moment.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/26388728

Looks like Murray and Djokovic are on board

hawkeye wrote:they have no chance of getting Nadal and I can't believe Djokovic would sign for this. Therefore Murray will be the lead attraction.

  

to be fair. The contracts these blokes are getting for this is ridiculous. a million a match, and you can play when you feel like it, madness

A million a match KR? Wow. You'd need your head checking if you didn't play!

I suppose this is why we needed longer off-season?

summerblues wrote:I suppose this is why we needed longer off-season?

Indeed, and while I recognise that these glorified exos are nothing like the intensity of proper tour matches, I have every sympathy with the journeyman pros who can't play as many ATP250's as they used to because the top players wanted a longer offseason. The ATP250's are where they make their living - there's nothing for them in this IPTL.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/26408231

So Nadal is representing Mumbai, Murray - Bangkok, Djokovic - Dubai. Looks like Team Singapore drew the short straw as far as the males on their roster but at least they've got Serena.
Still, I have no idea how this tournament is going to work or what the appeal is to traditional tennis fans, but I guess that's the point - they're targeting a new audience? Remains somewhat farcical in my eyes but who knows, come November/December I may be singing its praises....

Unfortunately, these things almost always end in betting scandals, and federal investigations... Not holding my breath for this to end well

ALPanorak wrote:Still, I have no idea how this tournament is going to work or what the appeal is to traditional tennis fans

As far as I understand, it is not clear yet it will work at all.  I think this is still subject to the ability of the organizers to secure the promised funds.

Otherwise it seems quite similar to the US "World Team Tennis" that is played annually in summer - also with teams drafting players from a list consisting of current and former players, and with 5 set "matches" with no-ad scoring and some other scoring adjustments, combining individual sets of men's singles etc.

WTT is entirely a non-event in terms of serious tennis implications.  Of course, they do not quite get the quality of players that this new league is trying to attract, but they do get reasonable names occasionally.  Williams sisters and Roddick used to play there at least occasionally, and the line-up for the 2014 "season" includes Victoria Azarenka (and also Querrey, Hantuchova, Bryan Brothers, Venus Williams, Hingis, Roddick, Bartoli and maybe some others).

I suppose the main attraction of the new league is to allow fans in an area with few quality tennis tournaments to see some of the top names - not totally unlike the exhos that Federer and Rafa did in South America over the last couple of winters.  Except that this one is perhaps more gimmicky by pretending to be a bit more than an exho.

I have little interest in watching this exho thing... but I would really like to see how much each player was "bought" for. Maybe they will release some sort of league table of payements?