Paradorn,
\nthe Scud
\nto light up
\nIndian Open<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse
\nMadras, India<\/p>\n
Asian tennis sensation Paradorn Srichaphan and fit-again Mark
\nPhilippoussis will light up the season-opening US$400,000 ATP
\nIndian Open starting here on Monday.<\/p>\n
It was at the same event last January that Paradorn kick-
\nstarted his amazing run which lifted him into the top 100 for the
\nfirst time and saw him end the year ranked 16th in the world.<\/p>\n
Granted a last-minute entry for India's biggest tennis event,
\nthe 23-year-old Thai stunned a competitive field to reach the
\nfinal where he lost to Guillermo Canas of Argentina.<\/p>\n
Paradorn, who went on to add the Asian Games gold medal to his
\nfirst two ATP titles at Long Island and Stockholm, returns to
\nIndia hoping to continue where he left off last season.<\/p>\n
"It was here that it all started, so this tournament is pretty
\nimportant and emotional for me," the soft-spoken Thai said.
\n"A win here would be just the start I need in the new season."<\/p>\n
Philippoussis, nicknamed 'Scud' for his missile-like serves,
\nreturns to the circuit after a four-month lay-off due to a knee
\ninjury sustained during the US Open in New York in August.<\/p>\n
The Australian, who slipped from his career-best ranking of
\n11th in 2000 to 83 this year, starts the new season hungry to get
\nback to the top and gain a berth in his country's Davis Cup
\nsquad.<\/p>\n
A fully-fit Philippoussis is expected to take the second
\nsingles spot behind world number one Lleyton Hewitt in
\nAustralia's first round clash against Britain in Sydney in
\nFebruary.<\/p>\n
"I am really looking forward to playing in India for the first
\ntime," the Scud said.<\/p>\n
"I have heard great things about the tournament through other
\nplayers and, hopefully, I can get a good start to the new year
\nhere."<\/p>\n
Canas, ranked 15th in the world, returns to defend the title
\non the hard courts of the Nungambakkam stadium against a strong
\n32-man field that includes another top-20 player, Sjeng Schalken
\nof the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
"Winning the last time in front of an enthusiastic crowd was
\nvery special," said the Argentine, who went on to take the
\nMasters series crown in Toronto in July.<\/p>\n
Home favorites Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathy will team up
\nwith different partners in the doubles despite winning their
\nfourth Indian Open title 12 months ago.<\/p>\n
Paes has paired with David Riki of the Czech Republic, while
\nBhupathy will take the court with Australian doubles specialist
\nTodd Woodbridge.<\/p>\n
All matches will be played under floodlights to beat the heat
\nin this southern Indian coastal city.<\/p>\n
Seedings (country and world rankings in brackets):
\n1. Guillermo Canas (Arg-15)
\n2. Paradorn Srichaphan (Tha-16)
\n3. Sjeng Schalken (Ned-20)
\n4. Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg-23)
\n5. Andrei Pavel (Rom-26)
\n6. Rainer Schuettler (Ger-33)
\n7. Kristian Pless (Den-74)
\n8. Lars Burgsmuller (Ger-77)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/paradorn-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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