The IPTL provides a host of tennis superstars but there’s no doubt that Pete Sampras is one of the biggest draws of the event, especially here in Dubai – a place the American 14-time major champion had never played before.

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So you can imagine the disappointment that took place at the Hamdan Sports Complex yesterday when the MC called out Sampras’ name to walk on the court but no one showed up. 

It turns out that Sampras was only committed to appearing for two nights in New Delhi and one night in Dubai and unfortunately for his many fans here, the American was a no-show yesterday and won’t be in the Indian Aces’ roster today either.

He was on the Aces’ bench on day one here in Dubai but he didn’t play the Past Champions singles as his team opted to put in Frenchman Fabrice Santoro instead.

I asked Santoro why Sampras didn’t play, he said: “It was a team decision. Because when he played the last match in Delhi, he hurt himself and we all thought we cannot take the risk because the competition is so strong and if he gets hurt again, it’s so tough and it could be a very difficult situation for the team. So we said ‘if you cannot play 100 per cent against Pat Rafter it’s going to be tough to win’.”

Who would have thought the day would come where Sampras is not a first pick?

In all seriousness though, this seems like a good example of how competitive the players are trying to be in this league.

Another thing you get in this unique team tennis format is group press conferences. We got to speak to Novak Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki together the other day and let’s just say it was more giggles and laughs than a serious question-answer routine.

Wozniacki started by answering a question on Djokovic’s behalf and the fun continued when the Dane suggested she wanted to hire her team-mate as her coach on tour but the Serb said she had to wait in line as he was heavily in demand.

“I asked Novak but he said he doesn’t have time for me, so I guess I have to wait until he retires, but I might retire before him, so that doesn’t help,” joked Wozniacki.

He added: “A lot of people in line… She’s climbing up in the list though, big climbs the way she’s been playing.”

The world No1 later suggested Wozniacki teach him how to run a marathon after she killed it in the New York Marathon last month. 

Djokovic later mocked Wozniacki’s holiday trip to the Bahamas with Serena Williams, saying the photos on social media made it seem like a very “conservative” trip. “Are you stalking me on Twitter, Novak?” Wozniacki fired back.

“It was all over the place, on TV… everywhere,” Djokovic responded.

He does have a point!