Cilic to be back in Chennai to defend title

He is the first player to confirm his availability to play in Indias first and only ATP International Series Tennis tournament,officials in the Organising Committee said.

The 21-year-old Cilic had won two ATP World Tour titles at the season opener 8211; at Chennai Open beating Som Dev Devvarman of India 6-4 7-6 3 on January 11 and at home on Feb 8 in PBZ tournament at Zagreb,beating compatriot Mario Ancic 6-3,6-4.

He had never previously lost an ATP World Tour final,winning his maiden title,beating Mardy Fish at the Pilot Pen Tennis championship in New Haven in 2008.

Cilic,who entered Beijing Masters as World number 15 defeated top 10 opponents consecutively Nikolay Davydenko and Rafael Nadal for the first time in his career and came close to clinching the third ATP World Tour title of 2009.

He eventually lost to Novak Djokovic 2-6,6-7 4 in the title clash in Shanghai ATP Masters 1000.

The top-ranked Croatian,with a 12-1 record at the start of the season,captured his second ATP World Tour title on hardcourt at Chennai. He continued his fine run at the Australian Open,where he reached the fourth round,but eventually lost to Juan Martin Del Potro.

Cilic,who received 300 ATP Ranking points as runner up in Shanghai Open,his first tour-level main draw since making the Grand slam breakthrough at the US Open,where he defeated Andy Murray.He lost in his first quarter-final to eventual champion del Potro. This loss made his match record go to 40-17.

The Chennai event,owned by IMG,a global leader in sports management and marketing,was started in 1996 and offers a total prize fund of USD 450,000.

The Chennai Open,which has completed 14 successful years,was adjudged the 8216;ATP Players Services Award of excellence in 2006 and Best Marketing Award in 2008.

From this year,the tournament will be sponsored by Aircel and supported by a consortium of sponsors in Gold and Platinum category set up by the Tamil Nadu Government and the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association.