As Roger Federer said before the start of the IPTL Dubai leg, people really have to see the competition for themselves to get what it’s all about.
Unfortunately not many showed up for day one yesterday but the few who did, got to see the entire tennis spectrum all on one court.
– Tomic: Australian wants top-10 breakthrough in 2016
– Murray: British No.1 steps up 2016 preparations in Dubai
– Bencic: Swiss mixed doubles link-up with Wawrinka not confirmed
– VIDEO: Federer excited to play IPTL Dubai leg
– Rio: Federer excited about partnering Hingis in mixed doubles
– #360view: Fan-friendly IPTL is full of pleasant surprises
Where else can you watch Federer play singles and doubles, James Blake roll back the years with some epic forehands, Marat Safin act like a cheerleader, supporting his Japan Warriors squad from the bench, and Agnieszka Radwanska putting on a show, all in one night?
A few feet away, I watched Andy Murray have his first practice session in Dubai this week, and he was joined by quite an entourage that included his coach Amelie Mauresmo, Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, fellow Brit Kyle Edmund, amongst others, while his brother Jamie was two courts down.
A short distance in the opposite direction, I spotted German-Jamaican Dustin Brown chilling by the pool of the Aviation Club enjoying his day off, while Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert was walking through the on-site Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in his bathrobe, perhaps heading for a swim himself or for an ice bath.
On court, team-mates cheered, danced, coached and warmed up on stationary bikes positioned behind the bench. Nick Kyrgios was up in the stands watching/scouting the opposition – or perhaps supporting his rumoured girlfriend Ajla Tomljanovic? – as fans took one selfie after another with him. So much action and the best part is that there are still two more days to go.
