Aircel Chennai Open 2013
Strong field of four Top-20 ranked players to vie for title
CHENNAI, November 19, 2012: The Aircel Chennai Open 2013 has confirmed participation from two-time Aircel Chennai Open singles champion Marin Cilic, currently ranked World Number 15, and World Number 17 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. The Aircel Chennai Open tennis tournament is scheduled from December 31st 2012 to January 6th 2013 at the SDAT stadium, Chennai.
The confirmation from these two Top-20 players along with
participation from World No.6 Tomas Berdych and World No.9 Janko
Tipsarevic ensures that the Aircel Chennai Open 2013 will have one of
the strongest player fields in the tournament’s history.
The 6’ 6” Croatian won the prestigious Aircel Chennai Open
singles titles in 2009 and 2010. He was in the 2012 field as the 4th
seed, but suffered a patella tendon injury which ruled him out of the
Aircel Chennai Open as well as the season’s first Grand Slam, the
Australian Open. After recovering, the right-hander gained momentum by
reaching the Munich final in April this year. In July, he captured his
eighth ATP World Tour title at the ATP Vegeta Croatia Open Umag.
24-year-old Cilic, who has begun five previous seasons in
Chennai, registered his career high ATP ranking of 9 on February 22,
2010 with his best-ever performance in a Grand Slam, reaching the
semi-finals in the 2010 Australian Open. He won his first Chennai Open
title in 2009 defeating India’s Somdev Devvarman and followed it in 2010
beating Wawrinka in the final.
Confirming his participation in the tournament, World No. 15 Marin Cilic said,
“I am delighted to be back in Chennai, especially since I could not
participate in last year’s event due to an injury. I have chosen to
start my five previous seasons here and have had great success as a lead
up to the Australian Open. It is always a pleasure to play in Chennai, a
city that has grown to become a home away from home for me.”
Wawrinka, who will also be a part of this season’s draw in
Chennai for the fifth straight year, is eyeing a winning start like in
2011. After a good run at the Aircel Chennai Open 2012, Wawrinka
confirms his return for another shot at the title. Wawrinka’s greatest
achievement till date was when he won the gold medal for Switzerland in
the men’s doubles event in Beijing Olympics, partnering multiple Grand
Slam winning compatriot Roger Federer.
Mr. Hiten Joshi, CEO of Tamil Nadu Tennis Association
said, “It is a privilege to have Marin Cilic – a two-time winner of the
Aircel Chennai Open singles title – back for the 2013 edition. Also it
will be good to see Wawrinka back in action this year. The crowds in
Chennai love and support them as if they were local boys! We look
forward to watching Cilic and Wawrinka showcase their skills this year”.
Commenting on the announcement, Ashu Jindal, Chief Operating Officer, IMG Reliance
said, “We are glad to confirm Marin Cilic and Stanislas Wawrinka’s
participation in the tournament. Other than being one of the world’s
best tennis players, Cilic has done very well in previous editions of
the tournament and feels at home playing here. Wawrinka has always been a
favourite here and the crowds at the stadium have always cheered for
this Top Swiss player. We are confident that Cilic and Wawrinka’s
presence will give fans an excellent opportunity to enjoy some great
tennis.”
The Title Sponsor for the tournament is Aircel and the event is supported by a consortium of sponsors in the Platinum and Gold category.
ABOUT AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN 2013
The USD 450,000 Aircel Chennai Open, owned by IMG and operated
and organised by IMG Reliance, is India’s only and South Asia’s premier
ATP World Tour Open 250 event. Started in 1996, by IMG, a global leader
in sports management and marketing, the tournament has completed sixteen
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), the event has acquired the status of a much sought-after tennis
event for both players and fans alike in the International tennis
circuit. The 18th edition of the tournament will be held from December
31, 2012 to January 6, 2013 at the 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, Mary Joe Fernandez, John McEnroe, Rafael Nadal, Monica
Seles, Maria Sharapova, and Venus Williams.
About IMG Reliance:
In 2010 Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India’s largest and
most recognized private sector company, and IMG Worldwide (IMG), the
world’s leading sports marketing and management company, announced the
formation of an equal joint venture to develop, market and manage sports
and entertainment in India. The joint venture company, IMG Reliance
Pvt. Ltd., will create and operate major sports and entertainment assets
in the country. In its first initiative, IMG Reliance entered into an
agreement with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) to create a new
professional basketball league and manage all aspects of the commercial
rights to the game in India. IMG Reliance signed a 15-year agreement
with the AIFF, to improve, popularize and promote the game of football
throughout India, from the grassroots to the professional level. IMG
Reliance has also created a scholarship program to identify and train
talented young Indians from sports including – basketball, soccer and
tennis–at IMG’s world-class sports training facilities at IMG Academies
in Bradenton, Florida.
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