Sania Mirza backs International Premier Tennis League despite player fatigue

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  • Motivated: Sania Mirza is willing to continue taking part in IPTL despite exhaustion.

    Sania Mirza stands firmly behind the IPTL despite admitting that the physical demands of the newly-introduced league have taken some toll on the players’ bodies.

    – Sampras' absence a shame, but teams playing to win

    Mirza, along with most of her Indian Aces team and a few players from other squads like Marin Cilic, has taken part in all four stops of the IPTL, enduring almost 9,000km of travel across Asia and contesting all 12 matches.

    The players have long complained about the length and intensity of the regular tennis season which prompted both the ATP and WTA in shortening their calendars. And when most of the top players signed up for the IPTL, many wondered why they would forgo some R&R or preseason training for this league.

    A few of the Aces fell sick during the two and a half week stint including Ana Ivanovic, who was unable to come to press on day two in Dubai as she struggled with a cold, according to the organisers.

    “It’s been a long couple of weeks for all of us. I’ve been a little sick as well. Gael (Monfils) was a little sick a couple of days ago. We’ve been traveling so much. I think in our team, us five, we stayed the whole time and we stayed two and a half weeks.

    Roger Federer.

    “So we are probably the most tired. We’ve played a lot. There’s only a few more in the other teams that have stayed the whole way. And we had a small team. So every person played every match literally. Except maybe Gael one day when Roger Federer was there he didn’t play. So it’s taken a toll of course. So I think our bodies are just struggling a little bit to recover.”

    But despite that, Mirza believes the advantages of the league definitely outweigh such issues.

    “For me to see Roger play Novak (Djokovic) in India, I don’t think that would have happened if that competition wasn’t there. People need to understand how important this is… I think this is going to inspire so many kids,” said the Indian sensation.

    “We can tell you, we were on the court, it was electrifying. There was 15,000 people in the stadium, watching Novak and Roger play a set, full-on. I think it was amazing, for Asia, for India of course. For this part of the world – except Dubai – no one gets to see that kind of level. You guys are lucky.

    Indian Aces.

    “But as an Indian I feel lucky that we have someone coming like this. Everyone, whether it’s Gael, or seeing the top-20 players in the world live… if it’s going to happen every year it’s going to be amazing and hopefully tennis will grow from this part of the world as well.”

    Asked whether she might rethink taking part in all four legs of the IPTL’s second season, Mirza added: “For me, it’s too far ahead to think. We all have to see how our bodies (react). We’re all training and we’re trying to stay as fit as possible. We have a couple of weeks now and then we go to Australia but hopefully we don’t have any injuries.”

    Indian Aces coach and player, Fabrice Santoro, believes the IPTL isn’t preventing the pros from going along with their preseason training, he thinks it’s actually aiding them.

    “I spoke to the top guys, like Tomas Berdych for example. He’s working hard every day, he’s on the court fighting every afternoon or evening for his team and preparing also for the next season. Same for Gael Monfils. Same for Roger Federer when he was with us in Delhi last week. Yes it’s one more competition but everyone is having a lot of fun and you can also prepare for next season,” said the veteran Frenchman.

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