NEW DELHI: The newly launched Pro Tennis League kicked off here Tuesday, with Indian Davis Cuppers Saketh Myneni and Arjun Kadhe as the headline names.
The “league”, which runs from Tuesday through to 22 December, also has former players such as Vishal Uppal and Ashutosh Singh, participating.
As it is currently the off-season for all professional players, Myneni and Kadhe will also earn some money by playing for their respective teams, Stag Babolat Yodhas and Raisoni Achievers respectively, PTI reports.
Vishnu Vardhan, Vijay Sundar Prashanth, current national champion Siddharth Vishwakarma, Sidharth Rawat, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Sriram Balaji are other professional players in action.
The eight-team league is taking place at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association premises of the R.K. Khanna Stadium Complex. Divided into two groups, the teams play in a round robin format and the top two teams in each group will qualify for the semifinals.
According to The Hindu, each tie will have five matches (two singles and three doubles). Each match will be a one-set contest, with the first to reach six games with a difference of two emerging as the winner. In case of a tie, a 10-point tie-break will be played. Each tie will start with a match between juniors, followed by doubles.
The third match will feature the professional players. There will be two doubles matches thereafter. Only doubles teams need nomination, as the singles players will be automatic choice. The team owners, mentor and players can sit on court during the matches and cheer for their team. They can have on-court coaching as well. However, use of mobile phones would not be permitted on the court.
Only professional and junior players will play the singles matches.
The winning team will get Rs 200,000 as prize money while the current professional players are being paid between Rs 100,000-150,000 as appearance fees. PTI reports.
Each of the team owners have reportedly paid Rs. 500,000-600,000 as naming rights for each team.
