News

• Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna, Carlos Moya get Wild Cards for Singles Main Draw
• Carlos Moya with Yuki Bhambri and Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh to partner in the Doubles Main Draw

Chennai, December 21, 2009: India's premier tennis event 'Aircel Chennai Open 2010' continues a tradition of providing an opportunity for Indian talent to compete with international stars on home soil.

Top-ranked Indian tennis players Somdev Devvarman (ATP Rank 126) and Rohan Bopanna (ATP Rank 398) have received wild cards entry for the Singles main draw of 'Aircel Chennai Open 2010'.

Spanish player Carlos Moya, a former world number one, who has won eleven ATP Tour singles titles is returning from injury and has received a wild card for both singles and doubles main draw. Moya will also be partnering Indian teen sensation Yuki Bhambri (ATP Rank 338) for the Doubles main draw. Somdev Devvarman along with Sanam Singh received the other wild card for the doubles draw.

Confirming his participation, Carlos Moya said, "My previous experience with the tournament is that I will be competing against a strong player field. The impressive line-up signals that the matches at 'Aircel Chennai Open 2010' will be full of challenges. Spectators at the venue have been very supportive of me over the years, while motivating me to perform to the best of my capabilities. I am thankful to the organizers for giving me a wild card to one of the most special tournaments on the ATP calendar."

Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director - IMG South Asia, Senior Vice President - IMG, said, "Carlos Moya, who won this event in 2004 and 2005, has been instrumental in putting this tournament on the global tennis map. In his comeback from injury, we are delighted to grant him a Wild Card on what will be his seventh appearance at the event. Indian tennis stars and youth icons Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna, Sanam Singh and Yuki Bhambri serve as role models to the aspiring Indian youth, and it is important that they appear in the only ATP event in India."

Karti P Chidambaram, Chairman of the AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN Organising Committee said, "The decision was unanimously taken by IMG, the Organizing Committee and the All India Tennis Association (AITA). It is with great pleasure we welcome Carlos Moya for his farewell visit to our tournament. He has been a past champion at Chennai and has been a tremendous crowd favorite. His contribution to charity organizations involved in rehabilitation of tsunami-affected persons is well known. The other two wild cards have been given to Somdev and Rohan taking into account their Herculean performances in taking India to the Davis Cup World group after a gap of 12 years. Somdev was runner up of the tournament last year and we look forward to another scintillating performance from him."

Karti also adds, "Yuki Bhambri who has a very bright future and has an important role to play in future of Indian tennis should learn a lot by playing with Moya. The second doubles wild card has been given to Somdev and Sanam after taking into account the potential shown by Sanam in recent tournaments in the USA.

Mr. M.A. Alagappan, President TNTA said. "The popularity of the tournament is vindicated by the fact that a Grand Slam Champion like Carlos Moya is very keen to come back year after year to Chennai. I sincerely hope that all the Indian players who have secured the wild cards will benefit through good performances in the AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN. It will be our endeavor to offer wild cards to promising TN players for the Qualifying event."

Fernando Soler, Tournament Director said, "Selecting the young Indian talent is crucial in the backdrop of contributions made by these players when representing India in Davis Cup. Additionally, Moya, former French Open Champion, has been a regular visitor to the event has time and again raised his level of play at this event. His selection further strengthens the tournament's line-up for this year."