Look who's here to play for Indian Aces – Roger Federer

In a move that would bring both joy and sorrow to tennis fans in India – depending upon whose side you're on – the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) on Monday announced that Roger Federer has been drafted in to play for the league's Indian franchise, Indian Aces. The Swiss legend replaces Rafael Nadal after the Spaniard pulled out citing 'health reasons'.

Federer, 14-time Grand Slam champion and one of the greatest tennis players in the world, will thus fly down to New Delhi to spearhead the Aces' campaign from December 6-8.

Apart from the Indian franchise, teams from Manila, Singapore and Dubai and will vie for the $1 million prize money on offer in the league that is scheduled from November 28 to December 13.

World No. 2 Nadal, who was picked up by the Mumbai team in the players' draft held in March earlier this year, will not make it to India this year due to his ongoing struggle with a wrist injury that has kept him out of action since this year's Wimbledon.

However, as was the case during the players' draft, there has been no word from the organisers on the amount of money that will be paid to Federer for participating in this league. There is also no clarity on what got Federer, who had previously expressed his doubts on whether the tournament will take off and how successful it would be, to agree to be a part of the league.

Meanwhile, the organisers confirmed Micromax as the owner of the Indian franchise after PVP Ventures had pulled out of the Mumbai team.

In a televised message, Federer said, "Namaste India! I'm really looking forward to making my first trip to New Delhi and playing for the Indian Aces. My team tells me that there are a lot of tennis fans and my supporters in the region, so I hope you can come out and support me in December. See you there!"

Nadal said he was disappointed to be pulling out of the inaugural edition of the league, but hoped to be back next year. "I was looking forward to representing Indian Aces and playing in front of fans in New Delhi in the exciting new league. I wish the team the very best and hope to be back next year," he said.

Federer, thus, will play alongside 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras, former French player Fabrice Santoro, the maverick Gael Monfils, Serbia's Ana Ivanovic and India's very own Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna for the Indian Aces.

Mahesh Bhupathi, the brain behind the league, said he was thrilled at the prospect of having Federer and Sampras play in the same team. "As a tennis fan, I am excited to see Roger and Pete play for the same team, it's unprecedented. I think Indian sports fans are in for a real treat," he said.

If you're a Federer fan, you sure are.