Chennai Open: Tough draw for Somdev

Somdev Devvarman was handed an easy opener but a tough second round match at the Chennai Open.

Somdev, a finalist at the event in 2008, opens against a qualifier. However, he faces a potential second round encounter against third seed Stanislas Wawrinka.

The Swiss, a beaten finalist in 2010, however, has to get past wild card Rohan Bopanna for the clash with Somdev to materialise.

Should the Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medalist get past Wawrinka, he faces a probable quarter-final against number eight seed Robin Hasse of the Netherlands.

And thereaafter lies a mouth-watering (prospective) semi-final against top seed and Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, the Czech having been handed a relatively easy draw.

Meanwhile, second seed and two-time defending champion Marin Cilic of Croatia opens against Japan's Kei Nishikori before a potential semi-final against fourth seed Richard Gasquet of France.