Last year's finalist and India's top singles players in the ATP, Somdev Devvarman has been drawn to play German Rainer Schuettler in the first round main draw of the Chennai Open ATP Tennis tournament on Monday.
Another wild card Indian entrant to the main draw is Rohan Boppana, drawn to play third seed Stanislas Wawrinka.
Robin Soderling of Sweden is the top seed and will take on Robby Ginepri (USA).
On his match against Schuettler in the bottom half, Somdev said it was the first time he would be playing him.
"Last year I was scheduled to play him. It is a good field for yet another time. I am looking forward to winning each match. Of course, I will try my best against Schuettler in the first round. I am sure I will have the fans support too".
On his assessment of his performance in 2009, Somdev said, "It is a process. I have been trying to get myself better equipped in the circuit. I thank my seniors for their observations. I know, I have to maintain the same tempo this year and the year after".
Somdev was responding to comments of former Indian Davis cuppers including Vijay Amritraj that he is a much improved player now and serves better and his baseline game is excellent.
Boppana (395) felt that it was a "tough" field.
"I always love to play in Chennai. I am looking forward to the match and get through the first round".
American-Indian, Rajeev Ram (ranked 79) said the tournament was a 'high point' for him.
"I hope to finish on a high compared to the previous edition".
Eight seeded Ram will take on Thiemo De Bakker of the Netherlands.
As for the Chennai ATP event, the tournament has always thrown open new winners on most occasions in its 13-year-old history where only six top seeds' have won the title including Spaniard Carlos Moya, who remains the lone player to have won the title twice (2004 and 2005). Indian tennis legends, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won the doubles crown on four occasions.
Marin Cilic of Croatia is the defending champion.
With the cut off for the main draw being 126, besides Boppana and Carlos Moya (448) this year's field is one of the strongest ever here and high quality tennis is in store.
A first round win for Somdev, who has improved upon his ranking from 205 last year, would mean that he plays the winner of the Moya-Janko Tipsarevic clash.
The Draw (Top eight seeds and Indians):
Robin Soderling (Swe, 1) vs Robby Ginepri (USA); Marin Cilic (Cro, 2) vs Igor Kunitsyn (Rus); Stanislas Wawrinka (Sui, 3) vs Rohan Bopanna (Ind, WC); Janko Tipsarevic (Srb,4) vs Carlos Moya (Spa, WC); Dudi Sela (Isr, 5) vs Denis Istomin (Uzb); Simon Greul (Ger, 6) vs Jan Hajek (Cze); Michael Berrer (Ger, 7) vs Santiago Ventura (Spa); Rajeev Ram (USA, 8) vs Thiemo De Bakker (Ned); Somdev Devvarman (Ind, WC) vs Rainer Schuettler (Ger).
