5 reasons to watch IPTL Season 2 this December

MANILA, Philippines - The International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) is set to roll out another adrenaline-fueled tennis tournament in Manila from December 6 to 8 this year at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

With a jam-packed arena, sold-out tickets and unexpected intensity, the inaugural IPTL proved that it is not just another overvalued exhibition match. The arena getting filled to the rafters is a testament to the prestige of the historic event that gathered the sport’s leading athletes under one roof.

And while everyone is still waiting to witness yet another round of intense competition, we've listed some of the reasons why you should watch IPTL this coming December:

1. Full-blast entertainment and hardcore sports in one roof

The IPTL shifts away from the stuffier, more traditional aspects of tennis. Unlike the usual, customary image of the sport, the IPTL features a DJ that keeps the atmosphere effervescent. To work the crowd up even more, a number of performances are also featured in between sets.

2. Definitely, not your traditional on-season sport

The IPTL format draws away from the conventional.

For those who have not watched the first season of IPTL, the game is played with rule innovations such as “the power double point, replacing an injured player during a match, no add scoring, determining the outcome of a tie with games not sets, a 20-second first serve limit, a five-minute shootout instead of a seven-point tiebreak in case of a 5-5 deadlock in a set and a seven-minute “super” shootout in case of a knotted count in points after five sets.”

2. A once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity for Filipino fans

The IPTL brings a rare opportunity for Filipino fans to see their favorite tennis players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams in the flesh. With the efforts of the people behind the IPTL, tennis has been reintroduced not only as a sport but also as a brand in the Philippines, where it is still begging for more spotlight.

3. Witness some unlikely pairings

The IPTL brought together players who you would never witness at grand slams or any combined events. British Number 1 Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova both played in a mixed doubles set last year, and we saw partnerships like Lleyton Hewitt and Serena Williams.

4. Serena Williams suits up for Philippine Mavericks

Filipino sports fans are in for a big treat for the second edition of the IPTL. Mavericks team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier hinted of lineup changes after the inaugural IPTL, where the Mavericks ended up third overall. For this season, Serena Williams will be making her debut for the Mavericks. She will be joining Maverick teammates Richard Gasquet, Milos Raonic, Croatian Borna Coric, Mark Philippousis, Treat Huey, Jarmila Gajdosova and Germany’s Sabine Lisicki.

5. Rafael Nadal leads Micromax Indian Aces

To heat up the Manila leg even more, Rafael Nadal will spearhead the defending champion Micromax Indian Aces, which finished with an overall record of 8-4 – good for 39 total points – last season. The Spanish clay specialist will be one of two Grand Slam champions in the series. He will be joining the squad composed of Fabrice Santoro, Gael Montfils,  Agniezka Radwanska, Ivan Dodig, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna.