Moya gets wild card for Chennai Open

22nd December 2009 - The Hindu

CHENNAI: Top-ranked Indian tennis players Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna, and Spanish veteran Carlos Moya have been given wild cards for the singles main draw of the 2010 Aircel Chennai Open tennis tournament.

Moya, a former World No. 1, who has won 11 ATP Tour singles titles, is returning from injury and has received a wild card for the singles and doubles main draw. Moya will be partnering Yuki Bhambri in doubles.

Somdev and Sanam Singh have been given wild cards for the doubles main draw.

Confirming his participation, Moya said: "my previous experience with the tournament is that I will be competing against a strong-player field. The impressive line-up signals that the matches at the Aircel Chennai Open 2010 will be full of challenges. Spectators at the venue have been very supportive of me over the years, while motivating me to perform to the best of my capabilities. I am thankful to the organisers for giving me a wild card to one of the most special tournaments on the ATP calendar."

Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director, IMG South Asia and Senior Vice President, IMG, said: "we are delighted to grant him (Moya) a wild card on what will be his seventh appearance at the event. Indian tennis stars and youth icons Somdev, Rohan Bopanna, Sanam Singh and Yuki serve as role models to the aspiring Indian youth and it's important that they appear in the only ATP event in India."

Karti P. Chidambaram, Chairman of Aircel Chennai Open Organising Committee, said: "we welcome Carlos Moya for his farewell visit to our tournament. The other two wild cards have been given to Somdev and Rohan taking into account their Herculean performances in taking India to the Davis Cup World group after a gap of 12 years. Yuki, who has a very bright future and has an important role to play in future, should learn a lot by playing with Moya."

M.A. Alagappan, President, Tamilnadu Tennis Association, said: "it will be our endeavour to offer wild cards to promising Tamil Nadu players for the qualifying event."

Fernando Soler, Tournament Director, said: "selecting the young Indian talent is crucial in the backdrop of contributions made by these players when representing India in Davis Cup."