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India test cricket skipper Virat Kohli will co-own International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) franchise UAE Royals that has Swiss ace Roger Federer. The IPTL, which is a brainchild of Grand Slam winner and Davis Cupper Mahesh Bhupathi, is scheduled to be held this year from December 2 to 20 .
Federer joins a formidable team of tennis superstars that include 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic. "I have always followed tennis with great interest and today I am glad to be part of a professional tennis league team," says Kohli at the official unveiling of the UAE Royals team in Dubai.
"I am a huge fan of Roger Federer and with him joining the UAE Royals, my decision to be on board with the team was firm. The UAE Royals feature some of tennis' greatest players and I am confident about the prospects of the team in the IPTL. I am also excited about the format of the IPTL, which I am sure will drive further interest in the game of tennis," Kohli adds.
The innovative, team-based, multi-nation tennis league has expanded to five teams for its second edition with the Japan Warriors joining last season's champions, the Indian Aces, alongside the UAE Royals, the Philippine Mavericks and the Singapore Slammers, in a five-city swing starting on December 2nd in Japan and culminating at Singapore's Indoor Stadium for the grand finale on December 20.
