Lots of money !!
One of the problems for me looks to be the travelling etc., There's a team from Singapore and one from the Middle East, so that's alot of travelling, when you're supposed to be either training or resting.

I actually agree with Mike Dicksons tweet on this one where he is saying that those players who complain about long seasons and not enough rest, are basically shooting their own argument in the foot. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if some of the top stars have been "requested" to put their names down now so that it attracts publicity at the launch, having already been told that if they want to withdraw later, that's no problem.

I may be being cynical here, but this looks more like a marketing exercise and TV money than anything to do with tennis.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Friday 28th of February 2014 07:23:03 PM

Farce.

I understood that we had the Paris Masters and World Tour Finals back to back to lengthen the supposed BREAK, quite largely because of the players complainrs aboug the length of the season.

So either they don't really need an extended break from serious tennis or this is all a piece of very well paid pish, not to be taken remotely seriously.

Of course Andy can't end up playing in this, because we all know how vital his close season timetable and training in Florida is. Hmm..

OK... so, into the minefield I wade...

Has anyone watched any of it?

It's been pretty good actually, some very competitive stuff. More so than, say early rounds (and often later) at International/250 level.
No hit and giggle, or exhibition stuff (that I've seen). There has been some players playing differently to their usual style for parts of matches - Serena serve volleying for 3 games for example, but even that was very entertaining because she wasn't messing around.

Andy's Mixed with Maria is best left undiscussed, but generally I've been pleasantly surprised.
They might be onto something, which, entertaining as I've found it, worries me. I keep hearing "IPL", "IPL", "IPL", in my head.

Oh! and, no service let; no problem. Main Tours, please follow suit.

Right, I'm behind the protective blast shield. Let rip!

I too have to admit, I've quite enjoyed the coverage I've seen; about 7 or 8 singles matches, all good, uncontrived, stuff.
I also second (third?) the sentiment about service lets and the shot clock.

I see the Fed is not convinced over the format.

www.bbc.com/sport/0/tennis/30371663

I remember Snooker trying something similar many years ago when it was looking for "new audiences". I think Barry Hearn had just taken over. There were shot clocks, additional penalty points and if you potted a specific ball, you got double points in the next 30 seconds. It was a novelty for a couple of years and then completely died a death in favour of the more traditional form of the game.

I see this tennis experiment going the same way. Whilst it is on a grander scale than the snooker and whilst the crowds have clearly had fun, I can't see the big names of tennis committing to it for anything more than the first couple of years before deciding that it is getting in the way of their close season training. Perhaps it will turn more into a legends event or something similar, but nothing more than that.

Eh, I've enjoyed it. I think that it's great to see the game so warmly received. Of course the IPTL won't last forever, but I feel that it could be an important pathway into bringing the 'traditional form' of the game into these areas that don't see enough tennis (and are, of course, highly lucrative).