Chennai: Chennai Open is the lone tennis attraction of the year in India and clearly the biggest event on the country's tennis calendar.
The tournament has earned to remain on ATP calendar as it has managed to sustain interest from international players and tennis lovers.
Two of India's best tennis players - Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi - are taking part in the tournament.
Paes and Bhupathi will take part in the doubles event with different partners as they look forward to win the title without each other for the first.
"The fact that Lukas and myself have done so well is no reason that we can't win it here. Being the first week of the year a lot of teams are looking for rhythm and so are we," said Paes about his preparations.
"I am happy to be back in Chennai. So not really thinking about the title and taking it one match at a time. It is the first tournament of the year and so trying to work out into some kind of form before the Australian Open," said Bhupathi.
World No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko is the top seed at the Open this year and is hoping to start 2009 with a tour win.0
"I am very excited to play at the Chennai Open. The tournament has become very popular on the circuit," said Davydenko.
It will be tough for him to fill the shoes of Rafael Nadal.
Stanislaw Warwrinka of Switzerland and Roger Federer's Olympic gold-winning doubles partner too is taking part.
"First tournament is never easy. After weeks of off and without preparation it is never easy to play very good. I hope it is going to be better that last year," said Wawrinka.
The eternal passenger on board the Chennai Express, Carlos Moya has made it this year too.
For Indian fans two young players Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri would be exciting prospects to look out for as well.
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