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The TATA Open Tennis Championships, India’s largest global tennis event, gets underway at the Nungambakkam Stadium in Chennai from January 5, 2004 with STAR Sports bringing you Live and exclusive coverage of the week-long event. South Asia's only ATP International Series event, and one of only seven in all of Asia, the mega event offers prize money of US$ 400,000.

The defending Champion Paradorn Srichaphan from Thailand will be eager to keep his last year’s record intact. With his stellar performance he had easily overcome veteran Karol Kucera 6-3, 6-1. This year too he will be keen to have a head start to the 2004 season. 

Srichaphan will, however, face stiff competition from Sjeng Schalken (Holland), Anthony Dupuis (France), and quite a few Spaniards. Besides Tommy Robredo, Felix Mantilla there is the young and promising Rafael Nadal from Spain. He is considered the future of  Spanish tennis. Carlos Moya, the 1998 French Open Champion – another Spaniard – is feeling fit and good too. The last two times – in the year 1999 and 2000 – Moya was not very lucky. In the year 1999 he was forced to concede the quarterfinal owing to injury and the following year he was forced to pull out of the tournament even before hitting a ball. But the World No.7 has already made a mark in the Davis Cup final recently. Though his team lost to the Australians at Melbourne,  Moya considers his victory over Mark Philippoussis as one of the best wins of his career.

Prakash Amritraj will lead the Indian challenge in the tournament. He has earned a wild-card entry in this tournament through his consistent showing. The highest ranked Indian was included in the Davis Cup team for the World Group qualifying tie against Holland in September 2003. Prakash also performed a grand hat-trick in the ITF Satellite Tennis circuit winning two singles titles in the ITF Satellite Series and one singles title in the Masters. He will pair up with his cousin Stephen Amritraj for the doubles draw. Prakash will be looking forward to achieving a new high.

So, get ready to enjoy all the excitement from The TATA Open Tennis Championships LIVE and Exclusive on STAR Sports.

RR

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