DUBAI: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, as well as former stars Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, lead the names saying they are prepared to take part in the planned International Tennis Premier League (ITPL).
However, Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova are the most notable absentees from the list of players released yesterday to participate in a ‘draft’ of 70 male and female players in Dubai on Sunday.
The players, put into different categories according to their status and market values, will go up for auction, with the five venues -- expected to be Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur -- competing against each other to bring the players to their city.
Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray are listed as ‘Icon Players’ along with Stanislas Wawrinka, Agassi and Sampras, as well as women’s world number one Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki.
There is also a ‘Past Champions’ category, featuring eight former tour stars, including Pat Rafter, the former US Open champion.
In addition, there are four more categories of current tour players, while a handful of doubles players will also feature in the draft for the tournament, which is likely to be staged in the traditional off-season between late November and late December.
AFP
