Big names drafted by fledgling four-team professional circuit

World No 1 Rafael Nadal has been drafted by Team Mumbai, while Novak Djokovic will headline Team Dubai and top WTA star Serena Williams will be the face of Team Singapore in the inaugural edition of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL).

Team owners and IPTL organizers - led by Indian doubles star Mahesh Bhupathi, the managing director of the league - held a draft on Sunday in Dubai, where $23,975,000 was spent across four teams to be based in Bangkok, Mumbai, Dubai and Singapore.