Chennai, Jan 7: Unseasonal incessant rains washed out the third day's matches in the Chennai Open ATP Tennis tournament here today even as the event was robbed of its sheen with top seed and world number five Nikolay Davydenko of Russia pulling out owing to a left heel injury.
An official communication issued late at night said all the eight matches have been called off for the day and would now be played tomorrow.
With the rains, under the influence of a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, playing havoc, the day's first second round singles match between Davydenko and Lukas Dlouhy (Czech Republic) could not be started at the scheduled time.
Shortly thereafter, the Russian announced his decision to pull out of both Chennai Open and the coming Australian Open, the first Gland Slam of the year.
Though the organisers announced that play would commence at 9 pm with the first round doubles match between top seeded pair of India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles (Bahamas) and Indian young pair of Somdev Dev Verman and Prakash Amritraj, another sudden downpour sent their plans haywire before the call off decision was announced.
Four each of second round singles ties and four first round doubles matches were scheduled to be played today. - Agencies
Jan 07, 2009