Somdev Devvarman has gained a direct entry into the main draw of the men’s singles at the $450,000 Aircel Chennai Open tennis tournament starting on January 3.
Currently ranked 106, the 25-year-old Somdev, a finalist here in 2009 who this year won a historic double of gold medals at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, made the cut that was applied at 114, according to Ravi Krishnan, MD, IMG South Asia.
Incidentally, Somdev is the first Indian since Leander Paes in 2001 to receive a direct entry. Paes was ranked 188 at that time.
In all, 25 players received direct entries while the other seven spots will be filled up with three wild Cards and four qualifiers.
Heading the 32-man main draw that contains players from 18 countries, are Czech Tomas Berdych, currently ranked No.6, and Croatia’s Marin Cilic (No.14) who is in line for a third title in a row.
