Melbourne: International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) on Tuesday announced the names of their first five teams, including Mumbai, and scheduled the player draft on March 2 in the United Arab Emirates.

“We are happy to announce the ownership of teams and competition will be held in Bangkok, Singapore, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur and one more city in the Middle East,” said Mahesh Bhupathi, co-founder of the IPTL.

Boris Becker, co-founder of the IPTL, said: “This is something that tennis needs. Back in my time we would have loved to have a series of tournaments in Asia, where the demand for world class tennis as an entertainment concept merges with the needs and wishes of millions of fans.”

Speaking about the initiative, former US Open and Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt said: “I am excited to have confirmed my participation. I wait to see whose team I am on, I do not have any preferences.”