It
is that time of the year - New Year – when the music season, rather
reluctantly, draws to a close. Chennaiites grudgingly trudge back to work,
after they are done with their New Year partying, celebrations etc. It is
also the Chennai Open time.
L&G, the 14th edition of the biggest Tennis championship in South Asia,
the Chennai Open is all set to get underway, today the 5th of January. This
most prestigious tourney is bigger and better than previous years.
May be a Nadal and a Federer or a Murray and a Djokovic are missing but
there will be enough star power and talent on view over a week of intense
match play. World No.5 Davydenko is top seed. World No 11 - Stanislas
Wawrinka, World No 23 - Marin Cilic, World No 26 - Ivo Karlovic, World No 33
- Rainer Schuettler, home-crowd favourite, World No 42 - Carlos Moya and
World No 49 -Janko Tipsarevic are some of the stars Chennai fans will be
privileged to watch.
Check
out: ChennaiOpen Special
The Indian contingent at the Chennai Open 2009 will be a perfect
combination of youth and experience. India's number one and two ranked
Somdev Devvarman and Prakash Amritraj will feature in the singles draw. For
the first time since 2005 will be Indian tennis legends Mahesh Bhupathi and
Leander Paes with their respective partners in the doubles draw.
The Chennai Open has undergone a number of name changes – from
McDowlell’s when it was conducted in Delhi to Gold Flake Open to Tata Open
and now Chennai Open. Call it by any name - a rose is a rose is a rose –
Chennai open has always been a big draw (pun intended) with the locals.
Chennai, after all is the land of the Krishnans, Amrithrajs and to a lesser
extent Lee & Hesh. It is Chennai if it is tennis or chess. The die hard fans
wait for this annual bonanza and they make the most of it. It is not just a
sporting event, it is an important event in many people’s social calendar;
friends and relatives meet – they socilase; they take in all that happens
out there - the sport, the fun, the parties, the shows, the launches,
promos, the food, the danc e and everything else.
Regulars at Chennai Open will remember last year as one of the best when
we all got to see the great Nadal. Though the expectation was he will be
champion, in a rather one sided final, he lost to Mikhail Youzhiny, who
hasn’t returned this year to defend his title.
Chennai open has a long history of generating excitement and involvement
of the locals – who can forget the excitement Rafter’s presence created -
1998 - and his legion of female fans, who would die to be seen with Rafter?
Who can forget the way he mesmerized the crowd with his game and emerged a
worthy champion much to the delight of his new found Chennai fans? Or Moya
who won 2 years in a row – 2004 &2005. He had his fans then and continues to
attract fans, even today.
When Lee & Hesh were playing together, all that they ahd to do was to
show up at the Centre court and take the doubles title! Playing together
they won the double stitle in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002 – what a record! Both
are returning after 2005 and the best their fans want is Lee & partner vs
Hesh and partner doubles finals.
Fasten your seat belts and get ready for the action! Let the matches
begin!
Be cautious though, not to fall in love with a tennis player for love
means nothing to them!
L.Ravichandran
ravi@chennaionline.com