Oct. 19, 2014 — In just a little over two months, the Philippines will lay witness to the country’s first ever international tennis match to take place at premiere venue, Mall of Asia Arena. The International Premiere Tennis League, a brainchild of multiple Grand Slam winner Mahesh Bhupathi, was created to fulfil the increasing demand for top-level tennis in Asia. It is the first city-based professional league in the world played across four countries.
Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, Carlos Moya, Treat Huey
Representing the Philippines in 24 matches across the Philippines, India, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates are tennis stars Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, Carlos Moya, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Kirsten Flipkens, Daniel Nestor, and Treat Huey.
Andy Murray boasts of two Grand Slam titles, 28 ATP Singles titles, nine ATP Masters 1000 Series titles, and the 2012 Olympic gold medal. He is the current title holder of the Wimbledon Championships singles title, becoming the first British male to win the Wimbledon Championships after a 77 year drought.
Darling of the press Maria Sharapova has won five Grand Slam titles, 32 WTA Singles titles, and is this year’s Olympic silver medallist. Today, the stunning Sharapova is a household name.
Starting her professional career in tennis at the age of 14, Sharapova took the world by storm when she defeated then two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams. In 2011, Sharapova was named one of the ‘30 Legends of Women’s Tennis: Past, Present, and Future’ by Time magazine.
Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Kirsten Flipkens, Daniel Nestor
Carlos Moya brags of his win as the 1998 French Open singles champion and as ATP’s third highest ranking male tennis player. He has then won 20 Singles titles, in 11 different countries including Argentina, Croatia, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and America.
Jo-Wilfred Tsonga took the tennis world by storm as the only player to have Grand Slam wins over Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray. He is known for his straight-sets win over the Nadal in the 2008 Australian Open Semi-Finals. Tsonga holds the 2012 Olympic silver medal for the Doubles Category in tennis.
Kirsten “Flipper” Flipkens ranks 13 overall in world ranking for female tennis players. She was the title holder of Girls’ singles at the Wimbledon Championships in 2003 as well as the 2003 US Open. She has garnered 12 ITF singles titles and one ITF doubles title. In 2013, she was named “Sportswoman of the Year” in Belgium.
Daniel Nestor has an impressive number of wins including a whopping 85 men’s doubles titles, 8 Grand Slam men’s doubles titles, 4 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, and holds the 2000 Olympic Gold Medal for the doubles category in tennis. Nestor is the one of the only three players in the history of tennis to have won all four Grand Slams, all Maters series events, the Year Ending Championships, and an Olympic Gold Medal at least once. Daniel Nestor is a true legend.
Rounding up the Manila Mavericks is Filipino tennis player, Treat Huey. Representing the country internationally, Huey has brought pride to the Philippines winning three ATP World Tour doubles titles and the 2012 Citi Open doubles title. Huey reached his career-high doubles ranking of World. No. 20 just this March 2014.
With a strong, talented and star-studded team, the Manila Mavericks is surely the team to beat.
Catch the team in action against tennis greats such as Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Gael Monfils, Fabrice Santoro, and Goran Ivanisevic.
Ticket sales of the International Premiere Tennis League in Mall of Asia Arena soared through the roof in its first week of selling. Early bird tickets are still available until September 15. To find out more details on the event, log in to www.smtickets.com.