Aircel Chennai Open is back, thanks to Government of Tamil Nadu’s support

World no 6 Tomas Berdych and World No 9 Janko Tipsarevic confirm participation

Tom Annear is new Tournament Director of Aircel Chennai Open 2013

Chennai, November 15, 2012: Thanks to the continued support of Government of Tamil Nadu and the other longstanding Sponsors, the Aircel Chennai Open, India and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour tennis event is back, promising to usher in another week of scintillating tennis action, featuring some of the finest players in the world. The tournament is scheduled to take place at Chennai’s SDAT Tennis Stadium from December 31, 2012 to January 6, 2013.

Stepping into the 18^th edition of the event, the Aircel Chennai Open 2013 has confirmed participation from two players from the Top 10;World No. 6, Tomas Berdych and World No. 9 Janko Tipsarevic

This will be 26-year-old Tomas Berdych’s second visit to the tournament. He kicked off 2012 with a bang after winning the Hopman Cup for the Czech Republic with compatriot Petra Kvitová. The Czech continued his top form as he reached his career best at The US Open Championships 2012, where he stalled the progress of World No. 1 Roger Federer, defeating him 7-6(1), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to enter the quarter-finals. In September 2012, Berdych also led the Czech team to victory to set up a face-off against Spain in the Davis Cup Final later this year.

 The sportsman further displayed his prowess in the game by seizing his second ATP title of 2012 by rallying to beat top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Stockholm Open final progressing to play at the upcoming Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. This will be his third consecutive appearance at the season finale.  Berdych, who had kept his hopes of qualification alive with victory over Tsonga lost to Djokovic and ended his run at the finals.

Janko, who will open his new season at the Aircel Chennai Open for the fifth successive year, led his country to a Davis Cup first round win over Sweden early this year. During the spring European clay swing, he compiled a 15-5 record, highlighted by a Semi final run at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid. He beat World No. 1 Novak Djokovic 7-6(2), 6-3 in the quarterfinals, before losing to Federer 6-2, 6-3 in a semi final encounter.

The right-hander then reached the Barcelona quarterfinals losing to Nadal but helped Serbia win the ATP World Tour Team Championship title at Dusseldorf. He captured his first ATP World Tour clay-court title with a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory over second seed Juan Monaco.

Tipsarevic had a perfect close to the season by qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Unfortunately his run was halted by World No. 6 Juan Del Porto in the second match.

Commenting on the confirmation, Mr. M.A. Alagappan, President of Tamil Nadu Tennis Association said, “We are pleased to announce the participation of two Top 10 players. Tomas Berdych had a huge fan following in India after he reached the semi finals in 2011. He has had a great year thus far and we are sure he will continue his winning streak in Chennai. Tipsarevic is a regular to Chennai and loves to play here. He has been doing well in 2012 and I am sure his presence will ensure that fans will get to see some fantastic games being played during the tournament. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome him to India. we are extremely grateful to the Government of Tamil Nadu and all the other Sponsors who have supported the event”

Ashu Jindal, Chief Operating Officer, IMG Reliance, said: “We are delighted to launch the 2013 edition of the Aircel Chennai Open with the announcement of Tomas Berdych and Janko Tipsarevic’s participation. We are thrilled to present them to you. We are gearing up for an exciting tennis tournament and we are confident that the event will feature one of the best player fields the Aircel Chennai Open has witnessed so far. At this juncture, we would also like to welcome Tom Annear, our new Tournament Director to the Aircel Chennai Open 2013.”

The 2013 edition will have Tom Annear - who has worked at the prestigious Sony Open for the last 17-years - serve as the new Tournament Director.

Annear began his 28-year career in advertising and sports marketing in New York City, and in 1994 moved to Miami, Florida  to join the Sony Open, an IMG-owned and operated event, as an Account Executive.  Over the years, Annear has assumed many roles encompassing special events, promotions, community affairs and business development, and is currently the Senior Vice President of Sales. His professional work experience covers media, corporate advertising, event marketing, public relations, fundraising, and sales.

The Title Sponsor for the tournament is Aircel and the event is supported by a consortium of sponsors in the Platinum and Gold category.

ABOUT AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN 2013

The USD 450,000 Aircel Chennai Open, owned by IMG and operated and organised by IMG Reliance, is India's and South Asia's only ATP World Tour Open 250 event. Started in 1996, by IMG, a global leader in sports management and marketing, the event has completed seventeen 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 tournament 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 event in India and 17^th in Chennai 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 organised with the active collaboration of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA).

ABOUT IMG TENNIS

For nearly four decades, IMG Tennis has led the industry in the areas of player representation, tournament management, tour marketing, television-related initiatives, and teaching academies. The company’s rich heritage in tennis dates back to 1968 with the signing of its first tennis client, Rod Laver, by Mark H. McCormack. IMG Tennis anticipates the trends, nurtures the talent, and maximizes the opportunities for players, organizations, corporate marketers, and fans of tennis. IMG represents many top players on both the WTA and ATP Tours, along with a bevy of future stars poised to make their mark on the professional game. IMG also prides itself on representing many of the legends of the game. IMG's roster of tennis clients includes Bjorn Borg, Lindsay Davenport, Chris Evert, Mary Joe Fernandez, John McEnroe, Rafael Nadal, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, and Venus Williams.

About IMG Reliance:

In 2010 Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India's largest and most recognized private sector company, and IMG Worldwide (IMG), the world’s leading sports marketing and management company, announced the formation of an equal joint venture to develop, market and manage sports and entertainment in India. The joint venture company, IMG Reliance Pvt. Ltd., will create and operate major sports and entertainment assets in the country.  In its first initiative, IMG Reliance entered into an agreement with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) to create a new professional basketball league and manage all aspects of the commercial rights to the game in India. IMG Reliance signed a 15-year agreement with the AIFF, to improve, popularize and promote the game of football throughout India, from the grassroots to the professional level.  IMG Reliance has also created a scholarship program to identify and train talented young Indians from sports including - basketball, soccer and tennis–at IMG’s world-class sports training facilities at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida.