Rohan Bopanna and Rajeev Ram promise exciting doubles action at Aircel Chennai Open 2013

Indo-U.S. pair all set to make the fight for the doubles title tougher

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Chennai, December 26, 2012: Current World No.12 and ace doubles player Rohan Bopanna will partner US-based Rajeev Ram at the Aircel Chennai Open 2013, India’s only and South Asia’s leading ATP World Tour tennis event. The tournament is scheduled to take place at Chennai’s SDAT Tennis Stadium from December 31, 2012 to January 6, 2013.

The formidable pair promises to add to the excitement in an event that has an impressive line-up of 4 singles players from the top 20. The organisers announced earlier that the country’s top doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi would be teaming up with World No.5 doubles player Canada’s Daniel Nestor.

After an impressive partnership that saw Bhupathi and Bopanna winning two titles at Dubai and Paris and a runner-up finish at the just-concluded season-ending London Masters, the duo recently announced their decision to play with different partners in 2013.

Boppana and Ram had earlier appeared as a team at the Australian Open in 2008, where they proceeded to the pre-quarters defeating higher ranked teams along the way. Given their complementary styles of playing and strengths in critical areas of the sport, they are sure to make a great doubles pair in the season beginner.

Bopanna is considered one of the best doubles players in the world and attained his career-best ranking of eight in March 2012. He teamed with Bhupathi to compile an impressive 34-22 match record and 2-3 in finals, and in the past has collaborated wonderfully with players like Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and American player Eric Butorac.

The 6 feet 4 inch Ram, on the other hand, captured his first ATP World Tour doubles title in Chennai in 2009, and later in Bangkok with partner Butorac. He is a talented singles and doubles player, and won the St Petersburg Open along with Nenad Zimonjic earlier this year.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Mr. Karti P Chidambaram, Chairman – Tournament Organising Committee, Vice President – AITA & TNTA said, “We are thrilled to welcome Rohan Bopanna and Rajeev Ram as they begin their journey at the Aircel Chennai Open 2013. Both players are immensely talented and will definitely be a tough pair to defeat. We wish them the best in their new endeavour.”

Ashu Jindal, COO, IMG Reliance said, “It gives us pleasure to announce Rohan and Rajeev’s participation in the doubles draw of the Aircel Chennai Open 2013. The field is getting more exciting with each passing day, and we are sure the tournament will provide a lot of nail-biting action and memorable moments to tennis fans around the world.”

“Rohan and Rajeev have the potential to be one of the top doubles teams in the world.  They have played together before and know each other's game well. We expect them to be a formidable threat at this year's ACO, said, Tournament Director Tom Annear.

ABOUT AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN 2013

The USD 430,000 Aircel Chennai Open, owned by IMG and operated and organized by IMG Reliance, is India's only and South Asia's premier ATP World Tour Open 250 event. Started in 1996, by IMG, a global leader in sports management and marketing, the tournament has completed sixteen successful years of existence, branding Chennai and India on the global tennis map thus creating a legacy of sorts of promoting international tennis in India. Winner of the prestigious ATP's Player Services Award of Excellence (2006) for its outstanding organization and wonderful hospitality towards the participants and ATP's Best Marketing Award (2008), the event has acquired the status of a much sought-after tennis event for both players and fans alike in the International tennis circuit. The 18th edition of the tournament will be held from December 31, 2012 to January 6, 2013 at the SDAT Tennis stadium in Nungambakkam, Chennai. The tournament is conducted in Chennai under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and is organized with the active collaboration of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA).