Mahesh Bhupathi has confirmed his participation for the 2007 Chennai Open, starting from January 1, after missing this year's edition while his former doubles partner Leander Paes is still uncertain whether he would be available for the tournament. Paes is likely to team up with Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles event at the Hopman Cup, which will be played in Perth in the same week.
"Leander has not confirmed his participation," Ravi Krishnan of IMG, said. "We are hopeful that he will play on his home turf. Leander also has plans to pair with Sania Mirza in the Hopman Cup. Leander had not partnered Sania in the Hyderabad qualifying event but the player could be changed as per Cup rules."
Paes and Bhupathi won the doubles titles in the Chennai tournament in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2002.
Krishnan did not divulge the number of wildcards for Indian players but confirmed that "as usual 90 per cent of the four wild cards will go to Indian stars."
In the best field ever for the Chennai Open, nine players in the top 50 including world number two Rafael Nadal and number eight David Nalbandian would be seen in action in the event.
Besides, Nadal and Nalbandian, 18 of the 25 direct entrants are in the top-100 and the cut-off is 114 with the entry of Oliver Marach (Austria).
Leading the field is the two-time French Open Champion, Nadal of Spain, making his second appearance at the event and Nalbandian, winner of World Masters Cup in Shanghai (2005).
Also taking part are two former champions of the event, Carlos Moya of Spain, winner of the title in 2004 and 2005 and runner-up in 2006 and number one Asian Star, Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, winner in 2003.
Srichaphan has an impressive record of having been a finalist four times in Chennai Open from 2002 to 2005.
According to the list released at a press meet by the Organising Committee on Thursday, other well-known players taking part include Xavier Malisse (Belgium-37), Julien Benneteau (40), Fabrice Santoro (52) and Nicolas Mahut (66)-- all from France, Bjorn Phau (Germany-77) and Stefan Koubek (Austria-80).
The qualifying event for the tournament would be held on December 30 and 31 and the four qualifiers plus the three wild cards would make the main draw of 32 for the singles.
The tournament offers a total prize fund of US$ 400,000 with the singles winner getting US$ 65,850 and the doubles winners US$ 20,250.
The last edition received the 2006-ATP players service award. Chennai Open has been rated as South Asia's largest global sporting event and this is reflected in the best-line up ever for the coming event. The city has hosted the event ten years out of the 11 it has been held in the country.
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