IPTL Manila leg veritable feast of tennis

MANILA, Philippines - The forthcoming Manila leg of the International Premier Tennis League, being described as a festival of tennis, is not all about the stars hitting their best shots at the MOA Arena.

Mahesh Bhupathi, the IPTL managing director, yesterday said what Filipino sports fans would see from Maria Sharapova or Andy Murray and company will be like no other.

“We have a lot of exciting things planned. The players will meet the people. They will meet with the kids. A few of the top players will ring the bell at the Philippine Stock Exchange,” said Bhupathi.

The former Grand Slam doubles champion from India met the press yesterday at the Premier Lounge of the MOA Arena to share the latest on the event scheduled Nov. 28 to 30.

Bhupathi, still looking fit and trim at 40, said they have invited President Aquino to watch the matches live. The IPTL has also requested an audience with the President in Malacañang.

“People are excited. How can you not be when you’re a tennis fan? How often do you see Maria Sharapova or Andy Murray play?” added Bhupathi.

Murray, winner of the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon, said he wants to meet Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao or even play a round of golf with him.

“I’m trying my best to see if we can make that meeting happen because he’s (Murray) been asking me about that a few months now,” said Bhupathi.

For three days, these top players will see action at the MOA Arena for the first of four IPTL legs. Other stops are scheduled in Singapore (Dec. 2 to 4), New Delhi (Dec. 6 to 8) and Dubai (Dec. 11 to 13).

Murray and Sharapova will lead the Manila Mavericks, which also include Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Carlos Moya, Daniel Nestor, Kirsten Flipkens and Fil-American Treat Huey.

Other stars playing for the UAE Royals, India’s Aces and Singapore Slammers include Williams, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andre Agassi.

The winning team gets $1 million.

“It’s a fun, fun three-day festival,” said the MOA Arena’s public relations officer, Stephanie Henares.

The IPTL is bringing the resident DJ of the Miami Heat, Irie, and cheer-dancers from Hungary to spice things up.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There’s no platform in tennis where you get to see current champions and past champions playing together,” Bhupathi added.

It’s not the first time Bhupathi, who has perhaps won more doubles titles than anyone else in the planet, is in the country because he remembers wining a couple of juniors titles here in 1991 and 1992.

“I played at the Rizal Memorial with (Philippine Tennis Association vice president) Randy (Villanueva). I remember I was only 17 then,” he said.

Three-day passes, which are transferrable, are priced at P58,500 for VIP, P46,000 for patron, P26,000 for lower box, P13,500 for upper box and P2,900 for general admission.

“Ticket sales are pretty good. World class tennis hasn’t come to Manila in many years, and in the beginning there was a lot of skepticism to see if it would be accepted.

“But ticket sales have been pretty exciting so far. And in the last push we expect a lot of people to buy tickets as well. Like I said, it’s going to be a festival,” said Bhupathi.

The Grand Slam champion was told that Filipino sports fans, particularly the male fans, can’t want to see Sharapova in action.

“So am I,” he said.