Chennai: Somdev Devvarman will be India’s best bet while Yuki Bhambri is expected to carry his good from into the new season which is full of new challenges for the Indian players as Chennai Open begins here on Monday.
India have three players in the singles main draw, which has world number eight and 2011 champion Stanislas Wawrinka as the top seed apart from 2008 champion and Russian second seed Mikhail Youzhny.
Wawrinka is coming into the season-opener on the back of his best career season and the Swiss will be the player to watch.
His stunning show in the latter part of 2013, when he stretched world number one Novak Djokovic in the US Open semifinals and also presented a stiff challenge to other top players, makes him a favourite in this tournament.
Wawrinka is two wins away from 300 in his career (298-198). Three other Swiss players have reached the 300-wins plateau in their career: Roger Federer (923), Marc Rosset (433) and Jakob Hlasek (432).
From the Indian point of view, the local fans will hope that Somdev, who reached the final in 2009, does well. He had a terrific 2013 season and in his quest to break into top 50, he will be eyeing a strong start to the season.
The job is not easy but he got a good draw as he will have a qualfier as his opening rival.
The slow courts are of Somdev’s liking as he likes to play from the baseline. (PTI)
