Sharapova, Murray sure to play, say organizers

Organizers of the International Premier Tennis League yesterday made assurances that tennis superstars Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova will play when the IPTL kicks off with the Manila leg on Nov. 28.

Eric Gottschalk, COO of IPTL, said the players in each of the four teams—all reigning champions and legends—are sure to play in the groundbreaking event.

“You can check the Twitter account of maybe Novak (Djokovic). I’m sure that even as we speak, these players will be posting messages on social media about IPTL,” said Gottschalk during the event’s launch at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong.

Gottschalk said tickets, ranging in prices from P700 to P15,000, would be available on or before Aug. 15.

Tour founder and managing director Mahesh Bhupati backed Gottschalk, saying “On Nov. 28, you will be happy.”

Bhupati declined to reveal the owner of the Manila Mavericks, though, other than saying “it’s a consortium of high-profile people.”

Gottschalk and Bhupati led the launch along with Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, also the president of Philippine Tennis Association, vice president Randy Villanueva, Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia and PSC commissioner and former Philta chief Buddy Andrada.

“It’s a dream for all tennis lovers and everybody involved in sports,” said Garcia.

Aside from Murray and Sharapova, the Mavericks will also have Filipino star Treat Huey, Kirsten Flipkens, Daniel Nestor, Carlos Moya and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Fil-German star Katharina Lehnert will serve as practice player.