Shortly after making his tennis debut in India, Roger Federer today labelled the newly created IPTL as an "exhibition", further stating that he prefers the manner in which the game is played on the professional tour.
Asked whether he would like to play in the professional Chennai Open, a regular event on the ATP calendar, he said:"Not next year, because I am starting in Brisbane again. Don't forget I have four kids and we need to beat jetlag. Brisbane was really nice to me, really enjoy the tournament.
"Being there is probably is more feasible for me. India is more feasible for me as an exhibition than as a tournament unfortunately. That is how it is," he said
Federer's words, for the champion that he is, are taken seriously the world over. Though he did say that IPTL has a place on the tennis calendar, his views after making his IPTL debut today will be music to the ears of ATP boss Chris Kermode, who termed the Mahesh Bhupathi backed tournament a 'glorified exhibition'.
"It is early days (for IPTL). It is not going to replace how we play the tour but definitely has a place in the sport. To have more interaction (with fans), more fun, you bend it (the rules), you customize it. Especially, I like the idea for this part of the world as they don't get to see many tournaments," said Federer, who is playing only the India leg of the four-team competition.
IPTL uses a time-restricted format. It has no ad-scoring, all matches are played on best of five format and each set played to six games with a five-minute shoot-out at 5-5. The most talked innovation is the 'Shot Clock', requiring a player to play a service point within 20 seconds of each other.
