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Ready for the aces
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TENNIS The 13th edition of the ATP event (12th year in Chennai) boasts a great line-up of players
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PHOTO: R. RAGU
TOURNAMENT TIME The spruced-up Nungambakkam tennis stadium
It took the end of the first edition to engineer the move from New Delhi, but the Chennai Open had found its rightful home — the Nungambakkam tennis stadium — in 1997. With the city’s rich sporting culture having produced the nation
’s most ardent of sporting connoisseurs and tennis families such as the Krishnans and the Amritrajs, it was only fitting that India’s biggest tennis tournament got the sporting theatre it deserved.
The tournament’s stature has risen rapidly with each edition. Twelve years of memorable clashes, big names going bust, bigger ones enthralling, unexpected successes and the Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi chemistry have contributed to a sizable history. In a significant move that benefited the tournament the sweat-soaked shirts in the April editions resulted in organisers moving the tournament to January (charitable weather being the reason). As the first tournament of the year, it was just right for the players to warm up for the Australian Open.
Great player-field
The 13th edition of the ATP event (12th year in Chennai) boasts a great player-field (four top-20 players, including world No.2 Rafael Nadal have confirmed their participation).
“Getting the players here the first time is one thing, but the difficult part is in getting them to come back; and that’s something we’ve managed to achieve. The tournament’s profile, thanks to the presence of some top-ranked players, has risen significantly,” said Balu Nayar, Managing Director, IMG India (tournament owners and organisers).
As part of improving the viewing experience, the court colour (Centre Court) has been changed to blue. “We chose blue for visibility reasons. It comes out well on television and the ball is easier to sight against the blue, than it was against the originally green colour court,” said Nayar. Blue is also easier on the eye for the spectators. The surface hasn’t been tinkered with.
Charity events and kids’ clinics-regular off-court activities-have been scheduled for this edition as well. The organisers are also looking at getting some of the players to give motivational lectures to the city’s youngsters and students. “The idea is to make Chennai feel proud of the tournament, and to make people more aware,” said Nayar. Both on and off the court, the 2008 Chennai Open promises plenty.
NANDITA SRIDHAR
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