The NextGen ATP Finals tournament is scheduled to be played in Milan from November 7 to November 11, marking the season-ending event for the men’s singles players under the age of 21.The tournament will be held in the same format as the ATP Finals, bringing together the top eight ranked players, only for this to be between players aged 21 and under.However, the inaugural competition has already drawn criticism even before the first ball has been hit.The draw ceremony for the event was conducted on Sunday at Arome in Milan - but the draw has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.In the bid to promote the tournament, the authorities resorted to a bizarre approach to determine which player lands in which round robin group.Players were asked to choose between female models and the chosen model would then accompany the player down the ramp, later revealing Group A or B that was hidden in some part of their bodies.The proceedings left players visibly uncomfortable as models carried signs with A or B, with one lifting up her dress to disclose the group while the other, escorting South Korean world no. 54 Hyeon Chung on the centre stage came out blowing kisses - ending by doing a little twirl to reveal the player’s fate.The incident has been slammed by former tennis stars and members of the tennis community, who took to social media to vent their anger.Holding the Italian Olympic Committee and the Italian Tennis Federation accountable alongside The Association of Tennis Professionals [ATP], the eminent personalities admitted that it sent out a terrible message to youngsters across the globe.New York Times tennis writer Ben Rothenberg shared a video of the stunt, describing it as "stunningly uncomfortable, cringeworthy and trashy."

Two-time grand slam champion Amelie Mauresmo and Judy Murray, mother of former world number one Andy Murray, publicly denounced the stunt.

Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov will be the top two seeds in the tournament.

Amidst the tagline ‘The future is now’, the event indeed began on a sour note, not highlighting ‘now’ in any which way. In general, fans believe it took the sport - as well as society - backwards rather than forwards.