Frenetic bidding involving top Indian Tennis players like Saket Myneni, Prerna Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Vishnu Vardhan was witnessed at the third edition of Pro Tennis League at Delhi NCR.
This edition also saw an engrossing session of players bidding in which eight different teams bagged a total number of 40 players divided into 5 playing categories including men and women.
Zeeshan Ali, the current head coach of Indian Davis cup team and head of the National Tennis Centre is associated with PTL. He said, “I am envious to witness the players auction, I wish tennis leagues existed at our time.
One of the biggest attractions of PTL Prerna Bhambri found this event motivating and termed it as propellant to next gen players.
Present on the occasion, the owner of the Team Stag Yoddhas Mr. Rakesh Kohli was delighted to mention that they were the winner of the first season of PTL and happy to see that PTL is taking Tennis to the next level in India.
Raadhika Khetarapal, owner of Team Radiant said “PTL completes full circle for me and Prerna Bhambri. Our tryst with Tennis started at Radiant Academy Delhi two decades ago in DLTA and now Prerna happens to be flag bearer of our team Radiant, as I graduate into team owners mantle.
Format of Play
The tournament also engulfs a unique format of play this time. In an official Draw Ceremony to be organized on the 20th of December 2021, a day before the league begins; all 8 teams will be divided into 2 groups of 4 Teams in each group, where they will play a Round Robin Format. Every tie would be decided on the basis of total number of games won by the players during the match. Match format will be best of 11 games with Regular Tie Breaker to be played at 5-5.
The categories are as followed;
1. Men’s Singles (Pro 1 Vs Pro 1)
2. Men’s Singles (Pro 2 Vs Pro 2)
3. Next Gen Singles (Next Gen Vs Next Gen)
4. Men’s Doubles (Pro 1 & Pro 2 Vs Pro 1 & Pro 2)
5. Mixed Doubles (Next Gen Men’s & Pro Women’s)
6. Mixed Doubles (Women’s & 35+ Professional Players)
2 Teams will be selected from each group on the basis of total number of games won during the Round Robin Matches and winner of Group 1 will play with the Second-place team in the Group 2 & vice versa in a knockout event.
To make the League more interesting and intense, Players & Mentors will be allowed with the Team members to be present on the courtside right next to the Player to guide them and encourage them during the side change. This gives the younger upcoming players a first-hand opportunity to learn from the best in the business and showcase their talent & keeps the Owners and Mentors involved in the game at every stage. All this is topped up with the Music & Activities for everyone in the stadium.
After the auction, the eight teams who will be fighting it out for the coveted title are;
3rd season of the Centena Pro-Tennis League (PTL) is starting from 21st December 2021 at DLTA Complex, RK Khanna Tennis Stadium, New Delhi.