Two Indian pairs get Wild Cards for Chennai Open
December 28th, 2011 - 6:45 pm ICT by IANS
Chennai, Dec 28 (IANS) Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and N. Sriram Balaji along with Ramkumar Ramanathan and Mohit Mayur have been given wild card entries into the doubles main draw of the ATP Aircel Chennai Open to be held here from Jan 2 to 8.
It will be their maiden appearance at the Chennai Open for the two wild card teams. Left-handed Nedunchezhiyan, at 556, is the highest-ranked singles player among the four all of whom are well-established in the national circuit.
As part of the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA)’s Advanced Players Programme, they have trained at the Schüttler-Waske Tennis University in Germany and Sanchez-Casal Academy in Spain.
Meanwhile, also making his debut at the Chennai Open is Spain’s Nicolas Almagro, the World No.10 who is hoping to improve on his 2011 performance that saw him reaching three consecutive tour finals, winning two of them.
The 26-year-old Almagro who reached a career-high ranking of nine in May said: “Many people said to me that the (Chennai Open) tournament is really good and the city I am going to stay in, a really good experience.
“I hope it will be a great week for me and for all the people and we need all the supporters to have an amazing atmosphere.”
The Chennai Open will feature Serbian World No.9 Janko Tipsarevic, defending champion Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka (17) and former champion Xavier Malisse of Belgium besides ATP World Tour’s Newcomer of the Year award winner Milos Raonic of Canada.
“I just want to try to play my best tennis and if it is possible remain in the top 10, but I need to work very hard.
“I need to work on my physical and my mental strength. I need to improve my volley and try to be regular all the season,” said Almagro, who, like most Spanish players, draws inspiration from compatriot and former World No.1 Rafael Nadal.
- Strong field for Chennai Open - Nov 24, 2011
- Chennai Open: Tough draw for Somdev, Yuki (Lead) - Dec 31, 2011
- Chennai Open: Somdev to face Frenchman Prodon in first round - Dec 31, 2011
- Chennai Open: Raonic blasts Almagro to enter final - Jan 07, 2012
- Chennai Open: Raonic to meet Tipsarevic in final (Lead) - Jan 07, 2012
- It's all about my serve: Raonic - Jan 09, 2012
- Chennai Open: Soeda stuns Wawrinka; Tipsy survives Belgian challenge - Jan 07, 2012
- Wawrinka set for Chennai Open title defence - Dec 29, 2011
- Injured Cilic drops out of Chennai Open - Dec 13, 2011
- 17th Chennai Open to see close games - Jan 01, 2012
- Chennai Open: Soeda puts out champ Wawrinka, Raonic also reaches semis - Jan 06, 2012
- Chennai Open: Tipsarevic too good for Bhambri (Lead) - Jan 05, 2012
- Tipsarevic survives Nishikori scare - Jan 08, 2011
- A perfect start: Wawrinka - Jan 09, 2011
- Wawrinka clinches Chennai title - Jan 09, 2011
Tags: atp world tour, defending champion, janko tipsarevic, jeevan, mayur, mental strength, mohit, nicolas almagro, rafael nadal, ramanathan, ramkumar, sanchez casal, singles player, spanish players, stanislas wawrinka, tamil nadu, tennis association, university in germany, wild cards, xavier malisse