Manila will host the first leg of the newly launched International Premier Tennis League (IPTL). The organisers of the event said today that it has been shifted from Bangkok to Manila because of the political unrest in Thailand. The Tennis League has attracted many top players of the ATP and WTA Tour to compete in the team competition. Mahesh Bhupathi, Indian tennis veteran and IPTL founder, referring to the November 28 to 30 leg said bringing world class tennis to new audience has always been one of the objectives of the IPTL. He said the organisers are happy to announce Manila as the first host city of their tour across Asia. Bhupathi said Manila emerged as the perfect location to stage the event for the coming years as they have world class indoor venues available which can hold more than 20,000 spectators each. Secondly, the city that has not seen professional tennis for the past 20 years. The Manila team, represented by Andy Murray, Victoria Azarenka, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Carlos Moya, Kirsten Flipkens, Daniel Nestor, and Philippines stand out Treat Huey, will face off against the Singapore "Lions", the Indian "Aces" and the UAE "Falcons". The winning team will receive a million dollars in prize money. The league format features a total of 24 matches to be played in the four host cities Manila, Singapore, Mumbai and Dubai from November to December. The teams compete againsteach other in one-set men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles and legends singles matches and the team that wins the most games (not sets) wins the match tie. Novak Djokovic has hailed the new competition as "revolutionary for tennis."