Nadal, an Indian ace for 2 weeks

The first part of Rafael Nadal's pre-season plans will include a jolly to Asia for the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), which will feature an array of ATP and WTA stars competing on different teams.

This exhibition tournament, spanning five countries and organised purely along commercial lines, has undergone some rule changes for this, its second edition. On this occasion, each match will consist of five one-set rubbers: one men's singles, one women's singles, one men's doubles, one mixed doubles and one men's legend's singles.

Nadal will be representing the Indian Aces, based in New Delhi, for whom he will be teaming up with Gael Monfils, Agnieszka Radwanska, Fabrice Santoro, Ivan Dodig, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna.

Kei Nishikori will be spearheading the Japan Warriors, who will also feature Kurumi Nara, Leander Paes, Maria Sharapova, Marat Safin, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The Philippine Mavericks line-up will consist of Serena Williams, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Édouard Roger-Vasselin, Mark Philippoussis, Richard Gasquet, Treat Huey, Milos Raonic and Jarmila Gajdosova.

The Singapore Slammers will boast Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Nick Kyrgios, Marcelo Melo, Dustin Brown, Karolina Pliskova, Belinda Bencic and Carlos Moyá in their ranks. And, last but not least, Roger Federer, Goran Ivanisevic, Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic, Daniel Nestor, Kristina Mladenovic and Ana Ivanovic will join forces for the UAE Royals.

World number one Novak Djokovic pulled out of the competition owing to fatigue following his hugely successful season.

Exclusive: IPTL is fun; but rules confusing, says Kei Nishikori

The International Premier Tennis League has got a thumbs up from Japan's ace tennis player Kei Nishikori, but he admits that the rules of the competition are a bit confusing.

The International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) has got a thumbs up from Japan's ace tennis player Kei Nishikori, but he admits that the rules of the competition are a bit confusing.

"The team competition is very good, you only have them in Davis Cup. The rules made me little confused but its real fun on the court," Nishikori said while talking to India Today television in Kobe.

When asked, on what made him to join the IPTL, the world No.8 said: "It's a great event and good opportunity for me to play here in Japan my home country. Moreover, lot of great players and legends of the game are playing in the league."

Niskikori is the first tennis player from Japan to break into top-10 of world rankings and also made into the US Open final last year. "It was really a good feeling to make into US Open final last year and almost my dream coming true. I hope to make it to a grand slam final soon and move forward from there," Nishikori said.

"The toughest part for me was to go above top 20 and I was there for two years despite doing everything right, but something was not quite enough. I got physically stronger, spent more time on the court and the little things helped me to improve," Nishikori said on his rise on the ATP tour.

However, for Nishikori, Novak Djokovic comes as a tough opponent and so also Rafael Nadal.