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If IPTL is the future of tennis, can we retreat to the present? If this is the future of tennis, can we retreat to the present?
(35 minutes later)
The opening day of the thunderously-hyped International Tennis Premier League lasted a shade under six hours. But it only took seconds for Maria Sharapova to give the game away.The opening day of the thunderously-hyped International Tennis Premier League lasted a shade under six hours. But it only took seconds for Maria Sharapova to give the game away.
On court Sharapova is usually ice-hearted and merciless: a tennis equivalent of Elsa from Frozen, who tries to conceal, not feel. But having rallied from 5-2 down to beat world No68 Kristina Mladenovic 6-5 after a five-minute shootout, she started joyously pumping her hands to the uncomplicated Euro-disco beat, before laughing and high-fiving her Manila Mavericks team-mates. On court Sharapova is usually ice-hearted and merciless: a tennis equivalent of Elsa from Frozen, who tries to conceal, not feel. But having rallied from 5-2 down to beat the world No68, Kristina Mladenovic, 6-5 after a five-minute shootout, she started joyously pumping her hands to the uncomplicated Euro-disco beat, before laughing and high-fiving her Manila Mavericks team-mates.
The ITPL organisers claim “the revolutionary new league promises to change the manner in which the world enjoys the top sport”. Sharapova’s reaction told you otherwise: this was fast-food tennis, fun but utterly disposable. It probably mattered less to her than any match she played on the women’s tour this year. The ITPL organiser claims “the revolutionary new league promises to change the manner in which the world enjoys the top sport”. Sharapova’s reaction told you otherwise: this was fast-food tennis, fun but utterly disposable. It probably mattered less to her than any match she played on the Tour this year. Even so, as the Russian cheered on her team-mate Carlos Moyá against Fabrice Santoro in a legends’ match, the television commentators stressed its relevance.
Even so, as the Russian cheered on her team-mate Carlos Moya play Fabrice Santoro in a legends’ match, the IPTL’s television commentators stressed its relevance. “Many people have suggested that this is just a glorified exhibition but these guys get here in a crowd and an arena like this and it does matter,” said one. “Yes, these guys have got so much pride,” replied the other. “They have been grand slam champions and world No1s – they don’t want to be embarrassed out here.” “Many people have suggested that this is just a glorified exhibition but these guys get here in a crowd and an arena like this and it does matter,” said one. “Yes, these guys have got so much pride,” added the other. “They have been grand slam champions and world No1s – they don’t want to be embarrassed out here.”
Watching Santoro, his belly now expanded to half-Depardieu, going through his full range of Gallic shrugs suggested that embarrassment came a distant second to the piles of cash on offer. Watching Santoro, his belly now expanded to half-Depardieu, going through his full range of Gallic shrugs suggested that embarrassment came a distant second to the piles of cash on offer. Those riches have tempted the cream of the current crop – including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Andy Murray – as well as past greats such as Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. Organisers claim they want to “change the face and future of the game”. Little wonder, then, this four-team, fortnight jaunt through Manila, Singapore, New Delhi and Dubai is compared to cricket’s Indian Premier League. It is nothing of the sort, even if it has swallowed much of the template: franchises, loud music, scantily-clad cheerleaders dancing during timeouts – something that seems appallingly backward and mid-20th century.
Those riches have tempted the cream of the current crop – including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Andy Murray – as well as past greats such as Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. Organisers claim they want to “change the face and future of the game”. Little wonder, then, this four-team, fortnight jaunt through Manilla, Singapore, New Delhi and Dubai is compared to the Indian Premier League.
It is nothing of the sort, even if it has swallowed much of the template: franchises, loud music, scantily-clad cheerleaders dancing during timeouts – something that feels appallingly backward and mid-20th century.
The format (one set of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and legends’ singles) is also skewed towards men: Sharapova was the only woman who played for the Mavericks, who had five men in action. It feels like a wasted opportunity given tennis is one of the few sports where women match men in ratings.The format (one set of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and legends’ singles) is also skewed towards men: Sharapova was the only woman who played for the Mavericks, who had five men in action. It feels like a wasted opportunity given tennis is one of the few sports where women match men in ratings.
The scoring changes, designed to make the game fresher, feel like unnecessary tampering with a classic recipe: the equivalent of adding brazilnuts to an apple crumble to make it stand out. The scoring changes, designed to make the game fresher, feel like unnecessary tampering with a classic recipe: the equivalent of adding Brazil nuts to an apple crumble to make it stand out. At deuce, there is no advantage, simply next point wins. At 5-5 there is a five-minute shootout to decide the set. Once during a set, players can opt for a happiness powerpoint – which as any middle manager could you tell you, sounds like a contradiction in terms – where the next point counts double. They add nothing.
At deuce, there is no advantage, simply next point wins. At 5-5 there is a five-minute shootout to decide the set. Once during a set, players can opt for a happiness powerpoint – which as any middle manager could you tell you, sounds like a contradiction in terms – where the next point counts double. They add nothing.
Only one change truly works: a maximum 20 seconds between points, the last five seconds of which are sounded out by a ticking clock. You wonder how the injured Rafael Nadal would manage without the time to towel down and adjust his pants.Only one change truly works: a maximum 20 seconds between points, the last five seconds of which are sounded out by a ticking clock. You wonder how the injured Rafael Nadal would manage without the time to towel down and adjust his pants.
By Sunday’s third day, early-onset old fartism was in full swing. Then again, perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to judge. New concepts usually meet resistance. Exactly 36 years ago on 1 December, in the formative days of World Series Cricket, the Guardian dismissed Kerry Packer’s rebranding of the game as “excruciating”, adding that “it possesses an undeserved breathlessness which the non-stop talking commentators, Trueman, Lawry, Benaud and company – will surely find it hard to maintain in the glum days.” By Sunday’s third day, early-onset old-fartism was in full swing. Then again, perhaps we should not be so quick to judge. New concepts usually meet resistance. Exactly 36 years ago on 1 December, in the formative days of World Series Cricket, the Guardian dismissed Kerry Packer’s rebranding of the game as “excruciating”, adding that “it possesses an undeserved breathlessness which the non-stop talking commentators – Trueman, Lawry, Benaud and company – will surely find it hard to maintain in the glum days”.
Similar thoughts were expressed at the embryonic stages of the Indian Premier League. But there is a big difference between the IPL and its wannabe equivalent. With Test cricket taking five days, there was clear gap in the market for a speedier, more TV-friendly version of the sport. Most tennis matches take a couple of hours. They don’t need tweaking. Similar thoughts were expressed at the embryonic stages of the Indian Premier League. But there is a big difference between the IPL and its wannabe equivalent. With Test cricket taking five days, there was a clear gap in the market for a speedier, more TV-friendly version of the sport. Most tennis matches take a couple of hours. They don’t need tweaking.
Another difference: the IPL, for all its froth, matters to players: bowling and batting figures are filtered into their career averages, while match-winning performances can increase their auction value and thus their salary. The IPTL is just about money. Which isn’t a terrible thing per se: tennis is a short career after all. But given Sharapova made $24.4m between June 2013 and June 2014 while Murray made $19.2m over the same period, money surely matters less than the need for recuperation after a long season.Another difference: the IPL, for all its froth, matters to players: bowling and batting figures are filtered into their career averages, while match-winning performances can increase their auction value and thus their salary. The IPTL is just about money. Which isn’t a terrible thing per se: tennis is a short career after all. But given Sharapova made $24.4m between June 2013 and June 2014 while Murray made $19.2m over the same period, money surely matters less than the need for recuperation after a long season.
But no: it is a case of forget the grind, think about the greenbacks. Yet it is telling that the ATP Tour’s executive chairman Chris Kermode doesn’t see the IPTL as a threat, telling the BBC that while it is “great” that tennis is being taken into virgin territories “I think we just have to be very clear it is a series of exhibitions”. But no: it is a case of forget the grind, think about the greenbacks. It is telling that the ATP Tour’s executive chairman, Chris Kermode, does not see the IPTL as a threat, telling the BBC that while it is “great” that tennis is being taken into virgin territories “I think we just have to be very clear it is a series of exhibitions”.
Watching disco music ricochet around an arena that was by no means full, watching the final set of a match that, because of the scoring system, was already decided, I thought to myself: if this is the future, can I retreat to the present?Watching disco music ricochet around an arena that was by no means full, watching the final set of a match that, because of the scoring system, was already decided, I thought to myself: if this is the future, can I retreat to the present?