Tennis lovers in New Delhi were delighted as news arrived of seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer and clay legend Rafael Nadal facing each other in an exhibition match of the International Premier Tennis League in the capital on December 12.
The Mahesh Bhupathi-launched IPTL will begin its second season from December 2 this year. Nadal, who skipped the tournament last year owing to an injury, will represent the Indian Aces this year, the team which Federer headlined last year.
Nadal and Federer, who will represent the UAE Royals this year, will take on each other in a mouth-watering clash in New Delhi, tickets of which are expected to sell at high prices.
The switch in teams happened during the Player Draft in April earlier this year. At the draft, a new team Japan Warriors was also announced. Bhupathi’s former doubles partner Leander Paes, who last year played only in Vijay Amritraj’s Champions Tennis League, will represent the Japan franchise this year- marking his IPTL debut.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic, who last year represented the UAE Royals, will play for Singapore Slammers in the second edition of IPTL.