India's No. 1 Somdev Devvarman,who has won two gold medals at the ongoing Asian Games in Guangzhou,has gained a direct entry into the main draw of the men's singles at the ATP Aircel Chennai Open Tennis tournament to be held from January 3-9. The other direct entrants in the tournament are World Number 6 Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic and defending champion for last two years Marin Cilic (No 14) of Croatia. Somdev,ranked 106,is the only other player apart from Leander Paes (in 1999) to qualify as direct entrant in the singles event for this ATP event in South Asia. Somdev,a finalist here in 2009,is in superb form,winning back-to-back golds in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. He created history by becoming the first ever Indian to win a gold in the men's singles event in Asiad after claiming the doubles title with Sanam Singh. Addressing a press conference to launch the field of players,Ravi Krishnan,MD-South Asia of IMG,the owners and organisers of the tournament said "cut off of (ATP rank) 114 for the coming event is the strongest field ever in 15 years for the tournament. The field of 25 direct entrants include one player in top ten,four inside 50 on ATP ranking and another ten inside hundred and the rest of ten stars are ranked 101 to 114." Richard Gasquet (France-rank 29),Serbian Janko Tipsarevic (49) and Xavier Malisse (Belgium-61),2007 singles and doubles winner,are the other well known players to figure in the tournament. Ravi Krishnan said the event would also feature all the top players in Indian tennis,who as a group have performed exceptionally well in ATP circuit and Davis Cup this season. "The strength and depth of the field illustrates the tournament's position as the premiere tennis event in South Asia," he added. He also put to rest speculation on change of venue,saying,"Chennai will be the venue for the next two years too,taking its long years of association with Tamil Nadu Tennis Association to 18 years." For the first time,online ticketing facility would be introduced for the tournament which would also have hawk-eye technology ATP Referral System at the centre court. Meanwhile,India's most successful tennis pair,Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are likely to come together for the ATP Chennai Open in the run-up to their appearance in the Australian Open 2011. "They would be obviously be wanting to play at the Chennai Open as the Australian Open would be played the very next week," IMG South Asia MD Ravi Krishnan told reporters. Bhupathi had earlier announced that he would be pairing with Paes in the Australian Open,the lone Grand Slam that had eluded them. "Leander and Mahesh have decided to play in Australian Open. We will welcome them with open arms to play in the Chennai Open preceding the Australian Open. We do not want to confirm for hundred per cent but Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan have confirmed their participation," Ravi Krishnan said. Lee-Hesh,who would be pairing up for the first time in nine years in a grand slam during Australian Open next year,had parted ways in ATP and grand slam tournaments,but continued to play together for India in Davis Cup matches and quadrennial games. In September,the duo had won the doubles tie for India against Brazil here and played their part in putting the country back in Davis Cup World Group. Presently,Peas and Bhupathi are playing with different partners in the London Masters tournament. Going by their current form and recent successes,one can expect a lot of fireworks if Paes and Bhupathi play in Chennai Open. Paes (37) and Bhupathi (36) provided the home crowd huge excitement in the Chennai Open during 1997-99 when they won the doubles title for three consecutive years. They also won the doubles crown at the same venue in 2002. The two formed a formidable partnership in the late 90s and steadily climbed the ladder in doubles rankings to become a strong combine as they won three Grand Slam titles. Paes,ranked 5,has bagged a career 12 Grand Slam titles,while Bhupathi,ranked 6,has won 11. For some unspecified reasons,the duo took to different ways in 2002. Like their joining together in 2004 at Toronto Open in preparation for the Athens Olympics,Paes and Bhupathi reunited in Thailand Open last month but lost in the first round.
