Mumbai: Get ready for the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open in Mumbai. Flamboyant businessman and politician Vijay Mallya has thrown his weight behind the city's first ATP tournament that starts on September 25.
The tournament will feature the likes of Mario Ancic, Tommy Robredo, Carlos Moya and Nicholas Keifer.
"Kingfisher built the tennis stadium in Bangalore. So we’ve had our involvement in the sport. We have always been looking for high-quality, international events, not just sponsoring anything and everything. And the opportunity that was presented to us to have the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open, I had no hesitation to say we are fine to take the title," said Mallya.
"We promoted the Davis Cup here in the beginning of this year and it was a great success, a lot of people came. So, bringing international tennis is very exciting. We’ve got six guys coming who are from the top 20. So, Mumbaikars are going to see some high-class tennis," said Mahesh Bhupathi, who promotes Globosport.
Mahesh added that Indian players would be preferred when giving the wild cards for the tournament, but he had a warning for the aspirants.
"Yes it is an opportunity for them, its there for them for the taking. If they are not up fore the challenges they need someone to be yelling at them," added Bhupathi.
But while Mahesh was hard on the boys, he was quick to come to the defence of Sania Mirza who has had a poor run this year on the international circuit.
"She is 20-years-old, people normally stagnate when they are 45. So give her a break."
Mahesh himself would partner Mario Ancic in the doubles at the tournament.
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