The Best and Worst from the 2014 IPTL so Far
The International Premier Tennis League has gotten off to a smashing start.
Players and fans seem thrilled. Matches have been competitive and entertaining. Dubbed the "Happiness Open," the IPTL brings top tennis stars to Asian venues largely ignored by the ATP and WTA tours.
Several players have already spoken about returning next year. Serena Williams told the IPTL she could see herself doing this again.
“I myself would like to give more time to it (IPTL). We're having so much fun and it's been very enjoyable for me and I think, for the most part, most of the top players are joining so, we kind of support it."
With innovative rules and a made-for-televison format, the IPTL strikes the right balance between exhibition and competition.
Still, there have been a few glitches. Players are constantly trying to figure out the rules. The fans, more so than the players, are struggling with the team concept. Many cheer for their favorite player, even if she plays for the opposing team.
The league wrapped up its stay in Singapore and heads to India, where Roger Federer will join the Micromax Indian Aces. With two legs still to come, here's the best and worst of the IPTL season so far.
Best: Retired Players Getting That Old Feeling
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The "legends" are a bit older and no longer in tip-top playing shape. However, they still carry that desire to win.
When decisive points are on the line, you see it in their faces: That old competitive spirit comes alive.
Whether it's Goran Ivanisevic fist-pumping an ace or Patrick Rafter high-fiving teammates after winning a game, the old guys still have it.
Grand Slam winners like Ivanisevic and Andre Agassi play exhibitions all the time. But the IPTL feels a little different. Now they are part of a team with current players on tour. It counts.
They may move a step slower, but once they get into the flow of the match, the skills they once relied on to win titles emerge. It's a beautiful thing to see.
Worst: Struggling Current Players Nearing Retirement
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Daniela Hantuchova, 31, was once ranked as high as No. 5. She's been getting blown away during IPTL competition.
Ana Ivanovic beat her 6-0. She lost her singles and mixed doubles matches. A fan favorite, Hantuchova held down the women's singles spot for the Singapore Slammers until Serena Williams arrived on the third day in Manila.
Now ranked No. 63, Hantuchova has been a weak link for the Slammers. With other teams featuring Top 10 players such as Maria Sharapova, Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki, Hantuchova's poor play kept the Slammers trailing in the all important women's singles match..
Similarly, Lleyton Hewitt struggled in men's singles. The Australian played far better in men's doubles when paired with Nick Kyrgios.
Best: Superstar Mixed Doubles Teams That Worked
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The demands of the tour and the meager prize money awarded to mixed doubles, keeps most superstars from playing in this lowliest of tennis categories.
But in the IPTL, fans were treated to some powerhouse partnerships. One of the most anticipated pairings was Sharapova and Andy Murray in Manila.
The two lost their two matches.
Meanwhile, Williams and Tomas Berdych helped lead the slumping Slammers to another match win. The pair communicated well, and the two strong servers kept the pressure on their opponents.
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Worst: Mixed Doubles Teams That Didn't Work
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Leading up to their first match, many fans tweeted that this was their dream mixed doubles team. Unfortunately, the two singles stars never meshed well enough to pull off a win. They lost both matches they played together.
However, Murray won a mixed doubles match with Kirsten Flipkens—the duo dominated Williams and Hewitt, 6-1.
Still, the sight of Murray and Sharapova playing together was a big enough victory for fans in Manila.
Best: Court-Side Camaraderie
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Kyrgios waved towels and leapt from his seat when a teammate hit a winner. Gael Monfils led a dance. Sharapova giggled with the guys on the Manila Mavericks.
Seeing all the court-side camaraderie was one of the best things about the IPTL. So many smiles. No wonder they call it the Happiness Open.
Worst: Annoying Unenforced Shot Clock
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One of the innovated rules the IPTL touts is the use of a 20-second shot clock between serves. It sounded like a great way to move the game along. The problem is, chair umpires seem unwilling to enforce it. Besides, because sometimes there are conversations to clarify the rules, players start their service routines later.
What viewers hear is this annoying buzzer. Players ignore it and go about their regular service routine.
Best: Behind-the-Scenes Access
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Whether it's photos and videos of players taking selfies, hanging out in a lounge or traveling on a private plane, the behind-the-scenes access has been fantastic.
The IPTL also does a good job of posting highlights and full video immediately on YouTube. Seeing the players interact off the court has almost been as fun as watching them play on the court.
Worst: Playing Let Balls
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The IPTL allows something permitted in World Team Tennis: playing let balls. Players are constantly caught off guard and naturally hesitate to play the ball. Secondly, players who hit poor let shots that barely clear the net, are given the point.
Their opponent is simply too far back to play the ball. Caroline Wozniacki won two points off of just those types of serves in a match against Williams. Rewarding poor serves is a bad idea.
Best: Ana Ivanovic Kneeling in Prayer
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Ana Ivanovic has only beaten Serena Williams once. So who could blame her if she needed to call on a higher power when facing Williams during an IPTL match in Singapore.
Ivanovic hit what she had hoped was a winner. The ball was called out. Williams and her Singapore teammates had already celebrated the point.
Ivanovic slowly kneeled at the baseline and appeared to pray for the call to go her way. It didn't work. The ball was out. But it was a funny moment.
Worst: Post-Match Selfie Obsession
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Selfies are cool, and the more people you can cram in one the better. However, the IPTL teams have taken it to a new level. They are posing for selfies on the court after every match. They are tweeting and posting these selfies to Instagram.
The post-match selfie has become a fast tradition at the IPTL. The selfies were cool for a while. Now it's enough already.
Best: The Micromax Indian Aces
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The Indian Aces are already in first place. Now they get their ace, Roger Federer.
Federer and Pete Sampras join the aces in India.
The Indian Aces have the best overall team. Instead of putting two superstars together for doubles, the Aces have a pair of doubles specialists who can play men's or mixed doubles. Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna dismantled Maria Sharapova and Andy Murray 6-1 in their match in Manila. And it wasn't even that close.
Bopanna paired with Gael Monfils in men's doubles was another solid combo. Proving that doubles play is about teamwork, Mirza and Bopanna showed their mostly singles-playing teammates how to score winners at the net.
The Indian Aces seem to understand the rules better and are always ready to play let balls. Most importantly, they have held the most consistent roster. Other teams are rotating mega stars in and out. It will be interesting to see how the team jells with Federer.
Worst: Singapore Slammers Rely on Superstars
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You'd think a team with Serena Williams and Andre Agassi would at least challenge for first place. Instead the Slammers are dead last. And until Williams' arrival, they were a disaster.
Unlike the Indian Aces, the Slammers have relied on their superstars to carry the team. Williams and Berdych have had to pull out wins just so the Slammers could squeak by at home. That's not enough to accumulate points. Although they won their last two matches, the Slammers remain in last place.
With Williams apparently done, the Slammers are likely stuck at the bottom.
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