Game Set and Match, Aircel Chennai Open 2010 Stills

Game Set and Match, Aircel Chennai Open 2010 Stills

Game Set and Match, Aircel Chennai Open 2010!

Robin Soderling, Marin Cilic, Stanislas Wawrinka and Janko Tipsarevic take centre-stage leading an impressive line-up of tennis stars in the world

• India’s only ATP World Tour Tennis Tournament enters an unprecedented Crystal Year (15 years)
• One of the most open and competitive fields in the events’ history
• Line-up includes Robin Soderling, Marin Cilic, Stanislas Warwinka in Singles Main Draw
• As many as Five players are in Top 50 rankings and a total of 15 players from Top 100

Chennai, November 26, 2009: The New Year in Chennai is set to begin on a very exciting note and tennis enthusiasts in India can once again look forward to some riveting tennis action. Aircel Chennai Open 2010, India’s only ATP World Tour Tennis event is now in an unprecedented 15^th year and will be played at the SDAT Tennis Stadium at Nungambakam, Chennai from Jan 4 till Jan 10, 2010. The qualifying rounds will be held on Jan 2-3, 2010. The USD 450,000 Aircel Chennai Open 2010 will be cynosure of all the tennis lovers around the world and it will feature an impressive line-up of stars both Indian and International who will vie for the one of the first ATP title of the new season. The week long tournament will be telecast live on Ten Sports and Zee Sports.

Leading the field is Robin Soderling who is currently World No. 9 and is the first and only tennis player to defeat Rafael Nadal in the French Open 2009. Infact he again defeated Nadal in straight sets earlier this week at the ATP World Tour Finals. Soderling is joined by the defending champion Marin Cilic who is currently World No. 14. Also joining the competition is, World No. 21 (World No. 9 in June 2008), Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) who won the 2008 Beijing Olympics Gold Medal in Doubles (with Roger Federer).

Completing the star-brigade in Singles draw are: Janko Tipsarevic and Dudi Sela.

Other well-known players include Simon Greul, Rajeev Ram, Lukas Lacko, Michael Russell,  Rainer Schuettler, Theimo De Bakker, Yen—Hsun Lu, Robby Ginepri, Daniel Brands and Michael Berrer amongst others.

The impressive field for Singles Draw of Aircel Chennai Open 2010 boasts of 3 top 25 players. Also, as many as 15 players are from top 100 players, thus making it a powerful and impressive field.

Speaking from London through Video conference, Mr. Fernando Soler, Tournament Director and Head of Tennis IMG Worldwide, said, “We are pleased that the event will continue to deliver quality players for the Indian crowd. Aircel Chennai Open 2010 will showcase a fascinating game of world-class tennis with top players and some exciting upcoming young talents slugging it out for the coveted titles. We are thankful to all the sponsors for their support to this mega event.”

Announcing the field, Mr. Ravi Krishnan, MD, IMG South Asia, Senior Vice President, IMG, the owners and organizers of this international ATP tennis event, said, “Aircel Chennai Open 2010 has one of the most open and competitive line-ups we have had in the history of the tournament.  The field boasts of 5 players who are in Top 50 and all of them have the potential of winning the Championship. An interesting point to note is that we have 7 players in the draw who have been in top 30 in their careers that including Rainer Schuettler, Dudi Sela, Robby Ginepri, Marcel Granollers. This field demonstrates the strength of Aircel Chennai Open 2010 and its position as the premiere tennis event in this part of the world.”

Over the Video Conference Mr. M.A. Alagappan, President, Tamil Nadu Tennis Association TNTA said, “Chennai is the hub of Indian tennis and Aircel Chennai Open has played an important role in nurturing tennis talent in the country.  Into its Crystal Year, the event has become one of the biggest global sporting events of South Asia. Representing Tamil Nadu tennis, our objective has always been to work with IMG and AITA to offer world class tennis spectacle in the country. Today, we see participation from top players in the world like Robin Soderling, Marin Cilic, and Stanislas Wawrinka in Aircel Chennai Open 2010 which will further enhance the popularity and recognition of the tournament amongst tennis fans and set an unparalleled benchmark in South Asia.”

This year at the Aircel Chennai Open 2010, the crowd would witness some interesting contests especially if it involves Robin Soderling and defending champion Marin Cilic.

There is another interesting element to this year’s Aircel Chennai Open 2010. Four players each from USA and Germany will showcase the domination of their respective countries in Chennai. These star players will bring in a touch of glamour to some high-voltage tennis action on courts.

Mr. Karti. P. Chidambaram – Chairman Tournament Organizing Committee and Vice President, All India Tennis Association (AITA) added, “ Aircel Chennai Open has put India into the top league of tennis playing nations in the world and we hope that this year the event extends its reach to a wider audience with the support of promotional activities from Aircel. Tamil Nadu Tennis Association’s unrelenting support for this tournament since its inception has helped in identifying and nurturing talent among many youngsters thereby paving the way for champions from India like Leander, Mahesh and Somdev. It would be relevant to point out that our tournament has become a permanent fixture in Chennai’s annual cultural calendar.”

The tournament is sponsored by Aircel – title sponsor and by a consortium of sponsors in the Platinum, Gold & Partner category,

About Aircel Chennai Open 2010

The USD 450,000 Aircel Chennai Open, owned and organised by IMG, is India‘s only and South Asia‘s premiere ATP World Tour – Open 250 event. Started in 1996, by IMG, a global leader in sports management and marketing, Aircel Chennai Open has completed fourteen successful years of existence, branding Chennai and India on the global tennis map thus creating a legacy of sorts of promoting international tennis in India. Winner of the prestigious ATP’s Player Services Award of Excellence (2006) for its outstanding organization and wonderful hospitality towards the participants and ATP’s Best Marketing Award (2008), Chennai Open has acquired the status of a much sought-after tennis event for both players and fans alike in the International tennis circuit. The 15^th edition of Chennai Open will be held from January 4, 2010-January 10, 2010 at SDAT Tennis stadium in Nungambakkam, Chennai. The tournament is conducted in Chennai under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and is organised with the active collaboration of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA).

About IMG Tennis

For nearly four decades, IMG Tennis has led the industry in the areas of player representation, tournament management, tour marketing, television-related initiatives, and teaching academies.

The company’s rich heritage in tennis dates back to 1968 with the signing of its first tennis client, Rod Laver, by Mark H. McCormack. IMG Tennis anticipates the trends, nurtures the talent, and maximizes the opportunities for players, organizations, corporate marketers, and fans of tennis. IMG represents many top players on both the WTA and ATP Tours, along with a bevy of future stars poised to make their mark on the professional game. IMG also prides itself on representing many of the legends of the game. IMG’s roster of tennis clients includes Bjorn Borg, Lindsay Davenport, Chris Evert, Roger Federer, Mary Joe Fernandez, John McEnroe, Rafael Nadal, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, Nicole Vaidisova and Venus Williams.

AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN 2010

SINGLES MAIN DRAW –PLAYER FIELD