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Nadal, Nalbandian, Moya, Srichaphan, Malisse, Benneteau, Santoro, Andreev, lead an impressive field for Chennai Open 2007. The line-up includes nine players who are and have been in Top 50 rankings in 2006. As many as 18 players are in Top 100. India's first ATP International Series Tennis Tournament enters its 12th year.
Tennis-crazy fans in India can look forward to ushering in the New Year in style as India's first ATP International Series Tennis event returns to Chennai. The Chennai Open 2007 will be played at the SDAT Tennis Stadium at Nungambakam, Chennai, from January 1-7, 2007. The qualifying rounds will be held on December 30-31, 2006.
The good news is that the $ 416,000 Chennai Open 2007 will be followed by almost all the tennis lovers around the world since it will feature an impressive roster of international stars who will vie for the first ATP title of the new season.
Leading the field is two-time French Open champion (2005-2006), World No. 2, Rafael Nadal (Spain), who will make his second appearance at the event. He is joined by winner of World Masters Cup, Shanghai 2005, World No. 8, David Nalbandian (Argentina). Complementing these two top 10 stars are two champions who are more of home-crowd favourites. Two-time Chennai Open champion (2004-2005), runner-up Chennai Open 2006, World No. 43, Carlos Moya (Spain) and No. 1 Asian star, winner of Chennai Open 2003, World No. 53, Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) who has an impressive record of appearing in four consecutive finals of Chennai Open from 2002-2005.
Other well-known players with career wins over some of the best players in the world include, World No. 37, Xavier Malisse (Belgium), World No. 40, Julien Benneteau, World No. 52, Fabrice Santoro, World No. 66, Nicolas Mahut (all from France), World No. 77, Bjorn Phau (Germany), and World No. 80, Stefan Koubek (Austria), amongst others.
The star-studded field for Chennai Open 2007 boasts of 5 top 50 players and 4 other players who have been in top 50 during 2006. Also, 18 players are top 100 players, thus making it the best field ever in the history of the tournament. With the entry of World No. 114, Oliver Marach (Austria), it has one of the lowest-ever cut-off in the history of the tournament.
Announcing the field, Ravi Krishnan, advisor - IMG India, the owners and organisers of this international ATP tennis event, said, "This is arguably the best line-up we have had in the history of the tournament. The field boasts of two top-10 players in Nadal and Nalbandian who are joined by two past Chennai Open champions and home crowd favourites, Carlos Moya and Paradorn Srichaphan. Completing this impressive line-up are Xavier Malisse, Julien Benneteau, Fabrice Santoro, Igor Andreev and Ivo Karlovic - players who are and have been in the top 50 rankings. This field demonstrates the strength of Chennai Open and its position as the premiere tennis event."
Says V Narayanan, president, Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA), "Chennai Open is undoubtedly South Asia's largest global sporting event. The tournament held in 2006 won the prestigious ATP Players Service Award. As a consequence, the Chennai Open is better known and more widely respected by players and administrators around the world. The participation of Nadal and Nalbandian reflects the improving image and prestige of this event."
"AITA and TNTA have been proudly associated with this event ever since its inception 12 years ago. We have consistently positioned the tournament as the 'Springboard for Future Champions'. Leander and Mahesh won their first doubles title in Chennai in 1997. They became world champions three years later. Nadal last played here in 2004. He returns as two-time French Open Champion and the world's No. 2 player," adds Narayanan.
Thanking the sponsors of the Chennai Open, Narayanan and Krishnan said: "We are deeply indebted to all the sponsors for their support to this mega event. The consortium of sponsors who came together in 2005 has placed Chennai, the cradle of Indian tennis, on the international tennis map. Thanks to the vision and initiation of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the other sponsors, the Chennai Open is not only promoting tennis but also playing a significant role in the economic development of the city and the state of Tamil
Nadu."
While the stadium in Chennai won't be new for Nadal, Srichaphan, Moya, Santoro and Phau, all having played here before, it will be the first time for Argentine, David Nalbandian, Belgian star Xavier Malisse, Frenchman Nicolas Mahut and Austrian Stefan
Koubek.
David Nalbandian has been a consistent performer on the ATP tour since his debut in 2000 on the professional circuit. He reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the Roland Garros, thus becoming the third active player after Agassi and Federer to reach SF or better at all four Grand Slam tournaments in his career. He registered the biggest title of his career last year at the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, where he captured the title by winning four of five matches, capped off by overcoming a two-set deficit in victory over No. 1 Roger Federer in a fifth set tie-break (in four hours, 33 minutes). He thus became the first Argentine to win year-end championships since 1974 when Guillermo Vilas won the Masters Title.
World No. 37, Xavier Malisse, known for his enormous right-handed forehand and great power, is considered the biggest Belgian tennis talent on the ATP tour. One of Malisse's most notable matches occurred at the 2005 US Open. In the fourth round, he was down two sets to Andre Agassi and was two points from elimination (down 5-3) in the third-set tie-breaker when he fought back to take that set and dominated the following set. Though he lost the match, he had won a lot of accolades with this performance. Another notable performance of Malisse was in the quarter-finals of the 2006 Rogers Cup in a three-set thriller against the World No 1, Roger Federer. Malisse had not lost a set in the tournament prior to playing Federer and pushed the World No. 1 throughout the match with some unbelievable shot-making along with great hustle.
World No. 66, Frenchman Nicolas Mahut and World No. 80, Austrian, Stefan Koubek are the two most consistent and improved performers of the year. In 2006, Mahut catapulted from 135 to a career high of 61 in Sept 2006. He is primarily a doubles expert, having won many tournaments with his doubles partner Julien. Koubek, on the other hand, moved from 182 at the start of the year to a career high of 79. This was showcased by a rivetting quarter-final clash at the Kingfisher Open where he upset top-seed Mario Ancic and lost a tough semi-final to Tomas
Berdych.
Also to be seen in action is the veteran Frenchman World No 52, Fabrice Santoro, who has won the longest singles match in the Open Era history. At the 2004 French Open, he beat fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement in a 6h 33m first round match, winning 6-4 6-3 6-7 3-6 16-14. He returned to year-end Top 100 in ATP Rankings for the first time in two years. He has been most successful in doubles. He has twice won the Australian doubles title partnering Michael Llodra and has been runner-up at the Australian Open, at the French Open (2004) and at Wimbledon (2006). In addition to his doubles prowess, Fabrice is noted for his cheery attitude on court and his vast arsenal of trick shots, making Fabrice a crowd favorite at virtually every event he takes part in. His varied and innovative style of play has earned him the nickname 'The Magician'.
Says N Kumar, vice-president, All India Tennis Association (AITA), "Chennai Open is the best-managed tournament in India. Now in its 12th year, the tournament has been a great showcase of some tremendous talent and spectacular tennis over the years and has truly projected India in the global sporting arena."
A consortium of sponsors, headed by the Tamil Nadu Governor, will sponsor the Chennai Open Tennis Championships 2007, the ATP Tour event in the city. The consortium will sponsor the event up until 2009.
R Rangaraj
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Chennai Open has impressive line-up
