MELBOURNE: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Mumbai have been chosen as hosts for the inaugural International Premier Tennis League, with a Middle Eastern city to be announced later, organisers said on Tuesday.

The five city franchises, which will draft and pay for a team of players, including some big stars, will play each other home and away in the event from Nov 28 to Dec 20, they said.

Co-founder and Indian doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi said the concept was aimed at providing a new, made-for-TV version of tennis with a young, Asian audience in mind.

Ties will consist of a succession of one-set singles and doubles matches with a total time-limit of three-and-a-half hours. The team finishing with the most games, rather than sets, wins.

“The youth of this world are looking for something fun, innovative,” Bhupathi said.—AFP