Philips Eapen to skip Masters; hints at conspiracy to keep him away

Philips Eapen, the only player from outside South Mumbai to win an
AATP title, will not participate in the AATP Masters Championships
that kicks off at MSLTA, Cooperage tomorrow. The Chembur resident,
whose classic serve-n-volley game sends fans back to the days of
Edberg and Becker, had already made plans to take a family vacation at
the exotic hill station Matheran and could not cancel his vacation to
play in the event.

Eapen, who is also the only player not from the Scholar School Tennis
Academy to win an AATP title, has hinted of a conspiracy by the
organizers to keep the AATP trophy within South Mumbai. Easpen’s win
in the fourth edition of the AATP circuit led to a furore as it was
the first time a non-SoBo amateur had won the title. Eapen lashed out
at organizers for not giving him enough advance notice in a deliberate
attempt to discourage him from playing and perhaps winning the title
again. Organizers have rubbished Eapen’s claims and said they are in
discussions with some players from Juhu Gymkhana which proves that
Eapen’s claims have no merit