Two-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland will be back in Chennai to defend his title at the Aircel Chennai Open 2016. India and South Asia’s Premier ATP World Tour tennis event, the Aircel Chennai Open 2016 is scheduled to be held at Chennai’s SDAT Stadium from January 4-10 2016.
The Aircel Chennai Open 2016 will be Wawrinka’s eighth visit to Chennai, and this upcoming year, he will be looking to defend his title and claim a hat-trick of championship wins. As he has wowed Indian tennis fans numerous times in the past, audiences are eager to see him reclaim his title. His big serve, exceptional state of fitness and single-handed backhand, which is perhaps the best in the game, won him his second Grand Slam – the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros against world number one Novak Djokovic in June this year.
The world number four is the second player from Switzerland to win the Grand Slam on clay, joining his compatriot, and good friend, Roger Federer. The newly christened ‘King of Clay’ is in scintillating form – he started 2015 successfully retaining the title (d. Bedene), it was his third title in Chennai (2011, 2014 and 2015) and eighth ATP World Tour title overall. As the Australian Open defending champion, he beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals prior to his semifinal exit to Djokovic in five sets.
He won the Rotterdam trophy, his first indoor title and his first at an ATP 500 tournament. In June, Wawrinka captured his second Grand Slam championship title at Roland Garros (d. Djokovic), winning on his 11th tournament appearance, breaking Djokovic’s 16-match winning streak on clay (28-match winning streak overall). At 30 years and 71 days old, he became the oldest man to win Roland Garros since Andres Gomez (30 years and 103 days old) in 1990.
He reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for a second straight year, losing to France’s Richard Gasquet in five sets. At the recently concluded US Open, Wawrinka reached the semifinals losing to fellow Swiss Federer. Wawrinka has qualified for the year-ending ATP World Tour Finals for the third year in a row joining Djokovic, Murray and Federer in the elite eight-man field. With a win in his recent Davis Cup match against the Dutch (d. De Bakker), Wawrinka is certainly back to his winning ways.
The much awaited Aircel Chennai Open 2016 will mark the 20th year of South Asia’s only and India’s premier ATP tournament in the tennis capital of India – Chennai. The event, one of three tournaments held in the opening week of the season, continues to give the subcontinent access to one week of scintillating tennis action, featuring some of the best names in the highly competitive world of international tennis.
Commenting on his presence at the event, Stan Wawrinka said, “Aircel Chennai Open is a great way to start the season, and I look forward to my eighth year at the tournament. The last 2 years have been extra special since I have gone on to win a Grand Slam each year after a winning start here in Chennai. So, Chennai has become like my good luck charm now!”
Wawrinka added, “Being a landmark year for the tournament, I hope to reclaim my title and make this year even more special. I congratulate the organizers for bringing out this exciting contest year after year and look forward to many more landmark editions of the Aircel Chennai Open.”
Ashu Jindal, Chief Operating Officer of IMG Reliance, said, “It is a pleasure and honour to welcome Stan Wawrinka for his eighth consecutive year at Aircel Chennai Open. He is in great form with a win at the French Open and a great performance at the US Open this last fortnight. It is encouraging for us to see the continued participation from top players such as Stan and other international stars. We look forward to his enthralling performance this season.”
The Title Sponsor for the tournament is Aircel and the event is supported by a consortium of sponsors in the Platinum and Gold category, headed by the government of Tamil Nadu.