DPA/London


Maria Sharapova will test her form as the International Professional Tennis League begins its second season in Kobe, Japan, tomorrow, with the December exhibition league now expanded to five squads with the addition of a long-sought Japanese side.
The Japan Warriors have signed five-time grand slam winner Sharapova, with the Russian surely hoping for some off-season match practise after spending most of the last half of the WTA campaign out with injury.
Number four Sharapova made a comeback in October and reached the last four of the WTA Finals in Singapore before winning both of her matches in Russia’s Fed Cup finals loss to the Czech Republic.
In addition to Japan, which also features Asia’s top player in Kei Nishikori, Russian ex-pro Marat Safin, a double grand slam champion now serving as a Russian politician, is playing as a legend.
The IPTL has become known for paying massive retainers for just a few matches from major players, a lure of paid practise which has drawn others including debutant Rafael Nadal (Indian Aces) into the field to compete for the 2014 holders.
Other ATP and WTA players who will dip in and out for IPTL play include world number one Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Nick Kyrgios and Swiss Belinda Bencic. While payments remain closely guarded, Richard Gasquet revealed to a French newspaper that he would receive 250,000 euros (258,000 dollars) for nine days in the mix.
The household names will choose their slots on a limited basis, with Roger Federer planning to play ties in India plus Singapore and at his training base in Dubai near the end of the three-week season.
“As long as I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet, I’ve got to keep a schedule in which I feel like I’m playing for many more years to come,” said the enthusiastic 34-year-old world number three. “I’ve got to keep pushing forward. Got to keep practising hard, being serious about all the things I do.”
The round-robin format insures fan-pleasing clashes between the greats at one point or another in a competition featuring men’s and women’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and legend’s singles between retired players.
But to help fans identify more with a team, players are now required to sign two-year playing contracts.
“Because many of the players have switched teams from last year,” said UAE coach John De Jager, “the organisers have now insisted that players sign two-year contracts so that they will become identified with one team or another.”
Television rights have been sold to ESPN, Fox Asia, Sky Sports and Eurosport, with sponsors including Coca-Cola and Qatar Airways on board as premium backers of the circuit.
The 2015 league iteration comprises the Indian Aces, Philippine Mavericks, Singapore Slammers and UAE Royals, plus Japan. The opening series of play runs December 2-4 in historic Kobe, with further stops over the next three weeks at New Delhi, Manila, Dubai and Singapore for the finals before the December 20 end of the season. In Kobe, the UAE will play Singapore while Japan face India.
TEAMS:
Indian Aces: Rafael Nadal, Gael Monfils, Agnieszka Radwanska, Fabrice Santoro, Ivan Dodig, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna
Japan Warriors: Kei Nishikori, Kurumi Nara, Vasek Pospisil, Leander Paes, Daniela Hantuchova, Lucas Pouille, Maria Sharapova and Marat Safin
Philippine Mavericks: Serena Williams, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Mark Philippoussis, Richard Gasquet, Treat Huey, Jarmila Gajdosova, Borna Coric and Sabine Lisicki
Singapore Slammers: Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, Marcelo Melo, Belinda Bencic, Karolina Pliskova and Carlos Moya                                                               
UAE Royals: Roger Federer, Goran Ivanisevic, Ana Ivanovic, Marin Cilic, Daniel Nestor, Kristina Mladenovic and Tomas Berdych.

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