Tennis Update: Two more wild cards awarded at the 2011 Chennai event
One of the three events played in the first week of January; the Aircel Chennai Open (ACO) is an ATP 250 event and is one of the preparatory events for the Australian Open. With only two weeks left in the event, the tournament
organisers awarded two more wild cards to two Indian players.
Rising stars Yuki Bhambri and Rohan Bopanna were awarded wild cards into the event today. With Somdev Devvarman getting direct entry into the singles main draw and the doubles stars, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, reuniting
at the event, brings the total of Indian players at the event to five.
Talking about the latest wild card entrants, tournament director Fernando Soles said, “At Aircel Chennai Open, it is our endeavour to promote national tennis talent. To take this commitment forward, we are happy to provide
an opportunity to Rohan and Yuki to play at the tournament this year. Playing on home ground, there would be a lot of fan support and expectation of all Indian players - we hope that they are able to match the same.”
Bopanna hit the spotlight in 2010 when he made it to the quarterfinals in 2010 Wimbledon and the final of 2010 US Open, partnering Pakistani Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi in both events. Bopanna also won several awards with Qureshi during
the year such as the 2010 Grand Prix of Peace & Sports and the Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award. Bopanna’s excellent performance at the Davis Cup against Brazil ensured India’s entry into the World Group for the 2011 Davis Cup. Bopanna bagged only one
doubles crown in the season with Qureshi, winning the final match at the Johannesburg event.
Bhambri is also an accomplished Indian tennis player. Former junior world no.1 and Orange Bowl Junior Tennis winner; Bhambri was the first Indian to win the junior title at the Australian open, winning it in 2009. His first Singles
win in the regular ATP season came in 2010 when he made it to the round 16 at the Malaysian Open. Bhambri also won the silver medal in tennis at the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games.
Excited to welcome more Indians into the event, ACO organising committee chairman Karti P. Chidambaram said, “We are very happy to welcome both Rohan Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri to Aircel Chennai Open 2011. Rohan in particular
has done extremely well for India in the Singles matches in the Davis cup ties against South Africa and Brazil. His crucial wins in these ties have helped India to be a part of the World Group in Davis Cup. We hope that the New Year brings in more victories
to both the players and they enjoy their matches in Chennai”
The first wild card into the event was awarded to Swiss number two, Stanislas Wawrinka a few weeks back.
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