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TATA Open Tennis Championship is scheduled to be played from 30th December 2002 to 5th January 2003 at Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium. A press meet was held on 21st November 2002 at Taj Coromandel Hotel.
Mr. Ravi Krishna, Managing Director, IMG TWI, South Asia and Senior Institutional Vice President IMG, welcomed all those invitees present and said that TATA Open 2003 is all set with an impressive list of Top Tennis Players from around the globe and it is matching our organisational objectives i.e. to give India the best. Mr. Romit Chatterji, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, TATA Group said that TATA Group is happy to be presenting the largest annual global sporting event in India with a strong field.
Mr. V. Narayanan, President, TNTA aptly stated that the TATA ATP Open has proved to be a launching pad to success/world fame for the tennis aces and it has been repeatedly proved in the past.
Speaking on occasion, he welcomed Mr. Fernando Soler, the new Tournament Director to Chennai and wished him a comfortable stay at Chennai. He appreciated IMG for their dedicated, commendable effort in organising the TATA Open Event at Chennai and the TATAs for sponsoring the event. He thanked AITA for their constant encouragement and support, SDAT for providing such an excellent infrastructure and facilities the media and press for their excellent coverage for the TATA Open 2003 and tennis related events.
The New Tournament Director for TATA Open, Mr. Fernando Soler, of IMG Barcelona, with decades of experience in international tennis field, speaking on the occasion said that the battle for the TATA Open 2003 is going to be harder fought than ever. He also announced the Main Draw list (which is enclosed) for the TATA Open 2003. Sensational tennis would be on display during the New Year week 2003.
To be seen in action will be Mark Philippoussis (Australia), the fastest server in the world and winner of 9 ATP titles, Gguillermo Canas (Argentina), the TATA ATP Open Defending Champion and ranked 15 in the world, Paradorn Srichaphan, the THAI TIGER, last year’s runner up, Asia No.1 and the most improved player in the ATP Tour and ranked 16 in the world, Sjeng Schalken (Holland), Wimbledon Semifinalist and ranked 20 in the world, Juan Ignacio Chela (Argentina), twice semifinalist at Chennai, Jerome Golmard (France) former winner of Gold Flake Open, Andrei Pavel (Romania), regular visitor to Chennai and Mario Ancic (Croatia), the new teenage sensation and a posisble grand slam winner in the future. The doubles event will be interesting with the participation of the experienced pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Todd Woodbridge. It is still not known whom Leander Paes will partner in the doubles.
Mr. Leander Paes and Mr. Prakash Amitraj have been awarded wild cards for the main draw of this prestigious tournament.
Surprise guest at the press meet was Mr. Mahesh Bhupathi. During the meet, he has categorically ruled out the possibility of pairing with Leander Paes during 2003 except maybe in Davis Cup. He said he is going to team up with John Eagle during 2003. For TATA Open 2003, he is going to team up with Todd Wood Bridge of Australia.
Preparations
IMG the world premier Sports management and marketing group is owning and organising this event at Chennai. IMG, Chennai Office located at Nungambakkam Stadium, under the stewardship of Mr. Shahid and Ms. Nidhi, IMG Mumbai is bustling with activities to conduct the TATA Open Event with grand success.
Sale of Tickets
Rates for season tickets are Rs.1,350/-, Rs.900/- and Rs.500/-. Limited tickets are available in TNTA Office for the benefit of members and their guests. Tickets are also available at the ticket counters at Nungambakkam stadium. In addition, arrangements are being made to sell tickets through special sales counters at various important points in the city.
Players Participating:
CANAS, GUILLERMO, (ARG), Ranking- 15
SRICHAPHAN, PARADORN, (THA), Ranking- 16
SCHALKEN, SJENG, (NED), Ranking- 20
CHELA, JUAN IGNACIA, (ARG), Ranking- 23
PAVEL, ANDREI, (ROM), Ranking- 26
SCHUETTLER, RAINER, (GER), Ranking- 33
PLESS, KRISTIAN, (DEN), Ranking- 74
BURGSMULLER, LARS, (GER), Ranking- 77
MONTANES, ALBERT, (ESP), Ranking- 80
PHILIPPOUSSIS, MARK, (AUS), Ranking- 83
KUCERA, KAROS, (SVK), Ranking- 84
PORTAS, ALBERT , (ESP), Ranking- 87
NORMAN, DICK, (BEL), Ranking- 96
SARGSIAN, SARGIS, (ARM), Ranking- 100
KRAJAN, ZELJIKO, (CRO), Ranking- 101
GIMELSTOB, JUSTIN, (USA), Ranking- 102
LLODRA, MICHAEL, (FRA), Ranking- 103
LISNARD, JEARENE, (FRA), Ranking- 104
KNOWLE, JULIAN, (AUT), Ranking- 107
BALCELLS, JUAN, (ESP), Ranking- 108
MAMIIT, CECIL, (USA), Ranking- 109
VACEK, JAN, (CZE), Ranking- 110
GOLMARD, JEROME, (FRA), Ranking- 111
ANCIC, MARIO, (CRO), Ranking- 113
VANEK, JIRI, (CZE), Ranking- 201
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