International Premier Tennis League - 2014

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

He loves being loved, alright. I'm glad he's going to India. I hope he then goes back to Switzerland and plays against Stan on Christmas Day! :lolz:

But I'm no longer rooting for the Indian Aces... :laydownlaughing

awww no..you lightweight.. I thought you were a hardcore supporter. :snigger

 

[Kieran]

He loves being loved, alright. I'm glad he's going to India. I hope he then goes back to Switzerland and plays against Stan on Christmas Day! :lolz:

But I'm no longer rooting for the Indian Aces... :laydownlaughing

awww no..you lightweight.. I thought you were a hardcore supporter. :snigger

I've followed them through thick and thin, but even the best supporters have their limits! :snigger

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Did Roger ever play in India in any exhibition match at least?

The only reason he could be playing is, to tour a new place as a top player. This is precisely what he seems to enjoy at this stage in his career, meeting people across the world who love him. He toured Latin America sometime back. He clearly knows it's not going to last long.

To the best of my knowledge Roger has not stepped his foot in India, not for regular
tennis, not for exhibition tennis and not even for vacation/sightseeing.

But, he would be a huge draw in India. I am sure he has millions of fans in India.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Originally, Rafa was scheduled to play only in India and UAE. Assuming Roger is not
going all out and playing in India and UAE only, it may not be a bad thing for Roger.

The UAE matches will most probably happen in Dubai. Roger usually trains out of
Dubai and it is almost like second home to him. Playing three sets over three days
from your second home for three millions cannot be all that taxing.

The India part will be little tiring due to travel and the possible media and
autograph sessions etc.

We don't know the details yet. But, I strongly believe Roger will be limiting his
participation to matches in India and UAE only. Also, as someone else pointed out
Roger probably got paid even more than what they promised to Rafa as Roger
kind of saved the IPTL so to speak.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Go Indian Aces !!!

 

[Moxie]

I thought when Rafa bailed they'd all start to go, not that Roger would step in. They must think there is something worthwhile about this other that just an easy payday, right? Why would Roger agree to it, when you kind of assume he turned it down before?

I too thought once Rafa withdraws, then Novak will withdraw and there will be a
chain reaction. However, Mahesh seems to have business Savvy. Rafa must have told
Mahesh long ago (at least certainly after he was forced to withdraw from USO) that
he is not planning to play in IPTL (this year at least). Mahesh would have requested
him to not to make it public until he figures out a way to deal with it. Once they
were able to get Roger in, the announcement comes in.

No one would buy that Rafa withdrew at 8:00 a.m. today and Roger signed in
at 8:01 a.m.

This is a smart theory. Very likely what happened.

Originally, Rafa was scheduled to play only in India and UAE. Assuming Roger is not
going all out and playing in India and UAE only, it may not be a bad thing for Roger.

The UAE matches will most probably happen in Dubai. Roger usually trains out of
Dubai and it is almost like second home to him. Playing three sets over three days
from your second home for three millions cannot be all that taxing.

The India part will be little tiring due to travel and the possible media and
autograph sessions etc.

We don't know the details yet. But, I strongly believe Roger will be limiting his
participation to matches in India and UAE only. Also, as someone else pointed out
Roger probably got paid even more than what they promised to Rafa as Roger
kind of saved the IPTL so to speak.

I didn't realize Rafa or some would be only playing in some venues. I did think of the draw to Dubai for Roger...not just 'like' a second home. Doesn't he actually have a place in Dubai? In any case, I think he trains there before Australia, so, what the heck...get paid for it. And I'm sure you're right that they had to sweeten the pot even more to get him to save them, when Rafa pulled out. I'm still not sorry Rafa's out, though.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well, actually most players are expected to play in all four venues and in all 24 matches
in IPTL. However, when you are Rafa or Roger, you can always negotiate your own terms.
I read somewhere that Rafa agreed to play only in India and UAE and has said no to
travelling and playing in Philipines and Singapore.

Now that Roger is actually "filling in" for Rafa, it should have been easier for Roger
to stick to these two places only.

Yes, Roger does own a place in Dubai and trains there before AO. However, I think
he usually goes to Dubai only after Christmas. But, IPTL is before Christmas and so
it is not a perfect match for Roger either as the timing is bit off.

 

[Moxie]

Well, he's got his own reasons, then, but maybe training and playing an exhibition/league in the subcontinent with a nip back to Switzerland for Christmas is not that disruptive.

 

[Front242]

Well he's got more than enough money for his whole family already but I guess with 4 kids now they want to make sure they're set up for life financially. Not that they wouldn't be even without this but all the top players burn money like it's going out of fashion so in that respect you can never have too much I guess.

 

[Moxie]

Well he's got more than enough money for his whole family already but I guess with 4 kids now they want to make sure they're set up for life financially. Not that they wouldn't be even without this but all the top players burn money like it's going out of fashion so in that respect you can never have too much I guess.

It really just can't be about the money. If he was going to be in Dubai, anyway, and then makes a side-trip to India for PR purposes, and takes some $6-8Mil, then I get it.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Incidentally, Roger went to South America to promote Tennis one year and then in the
following year, Rafa went to South America.

It looks like similar thing is happening again here. Roger goes to India this year and
then Rafa will go there next year.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Your complete guide to circus is here. In particular, you might want to look at the you tube video that explains the format. All kinds of confusing rules (presumably intended to make it fast and add drama): "shoot out", "power point", "time out", "tie break at 5-5", "no ad scoring", "ticking shot clock" etc.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

IPTL not just scored a coup with romping in Roger; they also got Maria who was not
in the picture initially. Similar to the story of Roger, Maria is substituting for Victoria
in the Manila Mavericks team.

 

[Riotbeard]

Rafa finally made a smart scheduling decision...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa finally made a smart scheduling decision...

Yes, but it is more or less a no brainer decision. One will look totally foolish missing a GS
and then walking on tight ropes in circus after two months.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Real reason that Rafa dropped out. He got afraid of Singapore Lions. They got Kyrgios.

 

[Federberg]

Well he's got more than enough money for his whole family already but I guess with 4 kids now they want to make sure they're set up for life financially. Not that they wouldn't be even without this but all the top players burn money like it's going out of fashion so in that respect you can never have too much I guess.

It really just can't be about the money. If he was going to be in Dubai, anyway, and then makes a side-trip to India for PR purposes, and takes some $6-8Mil, then I get it.

This all happens before the Davis Cup right? If Switzerland loses out, I hope he won't start crying, because I'll just laugh at him. I will have no pity at all

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well he's got more than enough money for his whole family already but I guess with 4 kids now they want to make sure they're set up for life financially. Not that they wouldn't be even without this but all the top players burn money like it's going out of fashion so in that respect you can never have too much I guess.

It really just can't be about the money. If he was going to be in Dubai, anyway, and then makes a side-trip to India for PR purposes, and takes some $6-8Mil, then I get it.

This all happens before the Davis Cup right? If Switzerland loses out, I hope he won't start crying, because I'll just laugh at him. I will have no pity at all

circus is after DC

 

[Federberg]

Well he's got more than enough money for his whole family already but I guess with 4 kids now they want to make sure they're set up for life financially. Not that they wouldn't be even without this but all the top players burn money like it's going out of fashion so in that respect you can never have too much I guess.

It really just can't be about the money. If he was going to be in Dubai, anyway, and then makes a side-trip to India for PR purposes, and takes some $6-8Mil, then I get it.

This all happens before the Davis Cup right? If Switzerland loses out, I hope he won't start crying, because I'll just laugh at him. I will have no pity at all

circus is after DC

Ah! Ok. That's a bit different then. Thanks. But we can write off his chances of winning in Australia. I might just pop into the bookies and put some money on Rafa. Nice hedge!

 

[DarthFed]

Well he's got more than enough money for his whole family already but I guess with 4 kids now they want to make sure they're set up for life financially. Not that they wouldn't be even without this but all the top players burn money like it's going out of fashion so in that respect you can never have too much I guess.

It really just can't be about the money. If he was going to be in Dubai, anyway, and then makes a side-trip to India for PR purposes, and takes some $6-8Mil, then I get it.

This all happens before the Davis Cup right? If Switzerland loses out, I hope he won't start crying, because I'll just laugh at him. I will have no pity at all

circus is after DC

Ah! Ok. That's a bit different then. Thanks. But we can write off his chances of winning in Australia. I might just pop into the bookies and put some money on Rafa. Nice hedge!

I know they are probably throwing ridiculous money at him but I'm still surprised he'd bite. Roger will be getting close to a million per exhibition for 20 years to come well after he is retired. I would think his focus should be on beefing up that resume and adding 1 or 2 more slams instead of just going after an easy money grab that could tire him out for 2015.