Post by jo on Dec 7, 2015 7:03:52 GMT -5
It is not just rock and pop artists who are visiting our shores for engagements!
Now we have sports superstars coming to play here ( there were previous visits by some NBA demigods) and, now, as part of tennis's new initiative to engage the attention of fans by bringing them over to some countries to play. It is not part of the ATP world tour but a new intitiative ( with new rules) on how to play tennis that is part competition and that is part fun! The crowds enjoy the matches and the players are all grinning all the time. It is the two-year old INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE TENNIS LEAGUE with certain capitals/countries as part of the group ( Japan, Singapore, Philippines, India, and United Arab Emirates). Top notch current players and legends play in the group which involves one-set single matches, doubles, and mixed doubles. Unlike the usual tennis matches, there are timeouts and player substitions allowed as well as shoot-outs instead of the usual tiebreak rules. The players work as a team and seem to be really enjoying themselves.
Yesterday, the Manila Mavericks were led by Serena Williams! Also in town are the controversial Aussie Nick K, fellow Aussie Samantha Stosur, Canadian Milos Raonic, Frenchman Richard Gasquet, Czech Tomas Berdych, and a few others...and even former Wimbledon champ Croat Goran Ivanonovic and former US Open champ Russian Marat Safin! Tennis is such an international sport!
Today was special -- when the Indian Aces were announced on court, and their last member came out, the crowd went hysterical! It was Rafa Nadal and he seemed almost embarrassed by the attention
He won his doubles and his singles matches.
But it was how the crowd was reacting to him that had everyone grinning. When he won a point, there would be loud drumming and whistling, when he made an error, the groans were so palpable...and when he went on his trademark chasing of the ball and his topspinning forehands -- the crowd went wild! As the sportscaster said -- for every Rafa action, there was a crowd reaction
Here's a brief report on how Manila has fallen in love with the Spanish tennis legend!
www.philstar.com/sports/2015/12/07/1530173/vamos-rafa-nadal-electrifies-manila-crowd-iptl-debut
This year, we have had quite a number of superstars visiting our shores, most notable would be Pope Francis and President Obama! One Direction also held a superhit concert! And even French President Hollande with Marion Cotillard and another French celebrity came for social causes, mainly on the climate change advocacy....
Now comes Rafa Nadal who also enjoyed similar affection from the people who saw him, including young boys and girls who had a tennis clinic with him the day before.
Btw, the team is actually called MICROMAX INDIAN ACES... and they will next play against the Manila Mavericks headed by Serena
Talking about Micromax...
Okay now -- when will Hugh Jackman ever think of visiting our shores
Jo
POSTSCRIPT:
www.spin.ph/tennis/news/rafael-nadal-hopes-to-come-back-to-philippines-for-fun
Now we have sports superstars coming to play here ( there were previous visits by some NBA demigods) and, now, as part of tennis's new initiative to engage the attention of fans by bringing them over to some countries to play. It is not part of the ATP world tour but a new intitiative ( with new rules) on how to play tennis that is part competition and that is part fun! The crowds enjoy the matches and the players are all grinning all the time. It is the two-year old INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE TENNIS LEAGUE with certain capitals/countries as part of the group ( Japan, Singapore, Philippines, India, and United Arab Emirates). Top notch current players and legends play in the group which involves one-set single matches, doubles, and mixed doubles. Unlike the usual tennis matches, there are timeouts and player substitions allowed as well as shoot-outs instead of the usual tiebreak rules. The players work as a team and seem to be really enjoying themselves.
Yesterday, the Manila Mavericks were led by Serena Williams! Also in town are the controversial Aussie Nick K, fellow Aussie Samantha Stosur, Canadian Milos Raonic, Frenchman Richard Gasquet, Czech Tomas Berdych, and a few others...and even former Wimbledon champ Croat Goran Ivanonovic and former US Open champ Russian Marat Safin! Tennis is such an international sport!
Today was special -- when the Indian Aces were announced on court, and their last member came out, the crowd went hysterical! It was Rafa Nadal and he seemed almost embarrassed by the attention
He won his doubles and his singles matches.
But it was how the crowd was reacting to him that had everyone grinning. When he won a point, there would be loud drumming and whistling, when he made an error, the groans were so palpable...and when he went on his trademark chasing of the ball and his topspinning forehands -- the crowd went wild! As the sportscaster said -- for every Rafa action, there was a crowd reaction
Here's a brief report on how Manila has fallen in love with the Spanish tennis legend!
www.philstar.com/sports/2015/12/07/1530173/vamos-rafa-nadal-electrifies-manila-crowd-iptl-debut
This year, we have had quite a number of superstars visiting our shores, most notable would be Pope Francis and President Obama! One Direction also held a superhit concert! And even French President Hollande with Marion Cotillard and another French celebrity came for social causes, mainly on the climate change advocacy....
Now comes Rafa Nadal who also enjoyed similar affection from the people who saw him, including young boys and girls who had a tennis clinic with him the day before.
Btw, the team is actually called MICROMAX INDIAN ACES... and they will next play against the Manila Mavericks headed by Serena
Talking about Micromax...
Okay now -- when will Hugh Jackman ever think of visiting our shores
Jo
POSTSCRIPT:
www.spin.ph/tennis/news/rafael-nadal-hopes-to-come-back-to-philippines-for-fun