(CNN) -- The fledgling International Premier Tennis League suffered a blow when two of the world's most recognized female athletes snubbed the event.

Max Eisenbud, the agent of both Maria Sharapova and Li Na, told CNN on Thursday that neither would be appearing in the team tournament that is set to make its debut in Asia this November.

Sharapova transcends tennis and has long been a magnet for sponsors -- the Russian is perennially listed as the world's richest female athlete by Forbes -- while China's Li is one of the marquee names in Asia, having captured a second grand slam title at the Australian Open in January.

Li was "confirmed" as one of the entrants by the League in a press release last May.

"Maria and Li Na will not be participating," Eisenbud said in an email.

Mahesh Bhupathi, a grand slam doubles winner and the main man behind the project modeled after cricket's highly successful Indian Premier League, will now be hoping he can secure the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Roger Federer, the 17-time grand slam champion and still the biggest name in the sport, told Gulf News this week he generally backed the idea.

The player list is expected to be revealed Friday.

"Firstly, I want to see whether it takes off or not," Federer told Gulf News. "I know a lot of people have invested in it or are part of it. Anywhere where tennis grows is a good thing, so I hope it takes off and becomes very successful.

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. Who are Maria and Li?
2. Who represents them?
3. What happened in May?
4. Will she be joining?
5. IS everyone else staying on?
6. Who else pulled out?
7. Who is Roger Federer?
8. Is he well known?
9. What happens at the end of the week?
10. Where is the team going?
11. When?
12. For what?
13. Has Li won any special events?
14. What?
15. Where?
16. When?
17. Is she from Australia?
18. Where then?
19. Who makes the most money?
20. Where is she from?
1. female tennis players
2. Max Eisenbud
3. Li was "confirmed" as one of the entrants
4. no
5. no
6. Maria
7. 17-time grand slam champion
8. yes
9. The player list is expected to be revealed
10. Asia
11. this November.
12. the team tournament
13. yes
14. grand slam title
15. at the Australian Open
16. in January.
17. no
18. China
19. sharapova
20. Russia