Delhi play host to Punjab in opener
Champions Tennis league to kick off at DLTA courts
By : harpreet kaur lamba
Update: 2014-11-17 01:39 GMT
New Delhi: In an age when almost every sport even kabaddi and volleyball boasts of a league of its own, an elite game like tennis joining the bandwagon seems to be a little late in the day. With the Vijay Amritraj-organised Champions Tennis League, a city-based endeavour, set to get under way at the DLTA courts here on Monday, fans across the country will witness the sport in a short, crisp format.
The CTL, a 10-day tournament, is somewhat depleted in the absence of top players but the presence of American star Venus Williams and Swiss Miss Martina Hingis — both former world number 1s is enough to evoke interest. Add to it former stars Patrick Rafter, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Greg Rusedksi and home heroes Leander Paes and Somdev Devvarman, and it makes for a heady cocktail.
The six teams in action Delhi Dreams, Bangalore Raptors, Hyderabad Aces, Pune Marathas, Mumbai Tennis Masters and Punjab Marshalls — are divided into two groups of three each, and will compete on a home and away basis.Boosted by Spain’s Ferrero and Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, Delhi will take on Punjab in the opening clash here on Monday, followed by the Hyderabad vs Bangalore face-off in Hyderabad. Sanam Singh and Kevin Anderson of South Africa complete the Delhi line-up.
Each tie will have five matches of one set each, beginning with the legends singles. It will be followed by the mixed doubles, the women’s singles, the men’s doubles and the men’s singles.
Ferrero will open Delhi’s campaign in the legends game, where he is pitted against Punjab’s Rusedksi. Paes and Devvarman’s knowledge of home conditions will add to Punjab’s strengths, who also have the promising 21-year old Garbine Muguruza of Spain in their ranks.