Yuki Bhambri and Rohan Bopanna are Wild Card entrants at Aircel Chennai Open 2011

Aircel Chennai Open 2011

Indian tennis players Yuki Bhambri and Rohan Bopanna have been awarded Singles Wild Cards in to the Main Draw of the Aircel Chennai Open 2011. The tournament organizers have rewarded these two players, due to their potential and impressive results over the course of the year. Along with Somdev Devvarman, who received a direct entry in to the Singles Main Draw on the merit of his ranking, and the “reunion” of Leander and Mahesh, the fans will have an opportunity to cheer for a strong Indian contingent.

Yuki Bhambri, the former World Junior Number 1 and winner of the prestigious Orange Bowl Junior Tennis event, was the first Indian to win the junior Australian Open title in 2009. Yuki also registered his first Singles win in an ATP event, when he reached the round of 16 at the 2010 Malaysian Open. Yuki also made India proud by bagging the Silver Medal in Tennis, at the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games in August 2010.
Rohan Bopanna had a breakout year on the ATP circuit in 2010, when he reached a career high ranking of #13 (November 2010) in the ATP Doubles ranking. Partnering Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, the duo reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 Wimbledon and the finals of the 2010 US Open. Rohan also won his second ATP World Tour doubles title, partnering Aisam, at Johannesburg in February 2010. The Indo-Pak pairing also won a couple of prestigious awards, such as the 2010 Grand Prix of Peace & Sports and the Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award Rohan will be eager to re-create the magic he displayed at the same venue, in September 2010, when he clinched the deciding Davis Cup singles match again Brazil, to ensure India booked its place in the 2011 Davis Cup World Group.

On the announcement of the Wild Cards for ACO 2011, Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director – IMG South Asia, Senior Vice President – IMG, said, “We are delighted to award Singles Wild Cards to Yuki and Rohan. Yuki is a young and upcoming Indian player with tremendous potential, and Rohan had an impressive season both on the ATP Circuit and Davis Cup. Aircel Chennai Open has always provided Indian talent with a platform to compete at the highest level. This year we have, without doubt, our best Indian contingent ever.”

Karti P Chidambaram, Chairman of the Aircel Chennai Open Organising Committee said, “We are very happy to welcome both Rohan Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri to Aircel Chennai Open 2011. Rohan in particular has done extremely well for India in the Singles matches in the Davis cup ties against South Africa and Brazil. His crucial wins in these ties have helped India to be a part of the World Group in Davis Cup. We hope that the New Year brings in more victories to both the players and they enjoy their matches in Chennai”

Mr. M.A. Alagappan, President TNTA said, “It brings me immense pleasure to announce that Rohan and Yuki would be participating in Aircel Chennai Open 2011. It has been a breakthrough year for Rohan as he reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. Yuki has done the nation proud by winning a Silver Medal in the Youth Olympics in Singapore earlier this year.  I hope both of them will benefit from the Wild Card given to them.”
Fernando Soler, Tournament Director said, “At Aircel Chennai Open, it is our endeavor to promote national tennis talent. To take this commitment forward, we are happy to provide an opportunity to Rohan and Yuki to play at the tournament this year. Playing on home ground, there would be a lot of fan support and expectation of all Indian players – we hope that they are able to match the same.”

Stanislas Wawrinka, the former top-10 player from Switzerland, has been selected as the third Wild Card entry in to the Singles event of the Aircel Chennai Open 2011.