Open flip-flop: Moya gets wildcard

23rd December 2009 - Times of India

Chennai Open Will See Spanish Star Playing In the City For The Final Time; Somdev, Bopanna Make Cut As Well.

Chennai: It's just a fortnight to go for the Chennai Open and the organisers have thrown a surprise. After going on record a week back that there won't be any Carlos Moya for the Open, they have roped the Spaniard in for the January 4-10 event.

The Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) and the IMG realised the 'box-office' of Moya in Chennai and they persuaded the former World No. 1 to take a wildcard and come for the event one last time.

The two other singles wildcards went to Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna.

Karti Chidambaram, the chairman of the organising committee, mentioned that this will be Moya's final Chennai Open, which should bring his fans to the Nungambakkam Stadium.

The TNTA had said last week that Moya's absence "won't make a difference", but it's obvious that they knew it would.

The impact of Moya was emphasize by Ravi Krishnan, managing director of IMG, who said: "Carlos Moya had been instrumental in putting this tournament on the global tennis map".

While Moya may not be the player that he once was, he still possesses enough firepower to challenge the younger players.

With the exception of Robin Soderling and to a certain extent Marin Cilic, the line-up for the Chennai Open does lack the star value. But Moya's last minute inclusion is bound to give a boost to the field, which was highlighted by tournament director Fernando Soler. "His selection strengthens the tournament's line-up for this year," Soler said.

It is interesting to note that Moya will also be playing the doubles with Indian teen sensation Yuki Bhambri, who has got a doubles wildcard. The 18-year-old, who is trying to find his feet in the ATP circuit, is bound to get a boost from this partnership.

"Yuki has a very bright future and has an important role to play for Indian tennis and he should learn a lot by playing with Moya," said Chidambaram. "The second doubles wildcard has been given to Somdev and Sanam after taking into account the potential shown by Sanam in recent tournaments in the USA," Chidambaram added.

That Somdev would also get a singles wildcard was a foregone conclusion, but it was a surprise to find the big serving Rohan Bopanna get it as well.

The Coorg player had to go through the qualifiers last season only to crash out in the first round of the main draw.

"The wildcards have gone 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," said Chidambaram.

"Somdev was runner up of the tournament last year and we look forward to another scintillating performance from him," Chidambaram added.