Asian Tennis Federation backs IPTL, CTL

Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) will be supporting both Mahesh Bhupathi's International Premier Tennis League (ITPL) and Vijay Amritraj-backed Champions Tennis League (CTL).

ATF president Anil Khanna, who is also the All India Tennis Association (AITA) chief, in a statement Tuesday said that Bhupathi and Amritraj would get all the support in their endeavours for their tennis leagues.

"As the president of the ATF that the ITPL will be launched by Mahesh Bhupathi later this year. ATF is giving its full support to this very challenging and innovative initiative taken by Bhupathi in bringing the highest level of tennis to Asia in its competitive format," said Khanna.

Khanna requested all the affiliated units of ATF, including UAE, India, Singapore and the Philippines to give full co-operation and infrastructural support for the ITPL.

The ATF president was also pleased with Amritraj launching a six-city tennis league in India.

"Highly ranked players and legends including Indian players will form part of the six teams. With this initiative, high quality tennis will be brought to six states in India. As the ATF president, I am of the view that Asian nations are looking forward to watching high quality tennis and the league format which is now being introduced in Asia and India, will expand to other nations as well," he said.