Paradorn,

Paradorn,
the Scud
to light up
Indian Open

Agence France-Presse
Madras, India

Asian tennis sensation Paradorn Srichaphan and fit-again Mark
Philippoussis will light up the season-opening US$400,000 ATP
Indian Open starting here on Monday.

It was at the same event last January that Paradorn kick-
started his amazing run which lifted him into the top 100 for the
first time and saw him end the year ranked 16th in the world.

Granted a last-minute entry for India's biggest tennis event,
the 23-year-old Thai stunned a competitive field to reach the
final where he lost to Guillermo Canas of Argentina.

Paradorn, who went on to add the Asian Games gold medal to his
first two ATP titles at Long Island and Stockholm, returns to
India hoping to continue where he left off last season.

"It was here that it all started, so this tournament is pretty
important and emotional for me," the soft-spoken Thai said.
"A win here would be just the start I need in the new season."

Philippoussis, nicknamed 'Scud' for his missile-like serves,
returns to the circuit after a four-month lay-off due to a knee
injury sustained during the US Open in New York in August.

The Australian, who slipped from his career-best ranking of
11th in 2000 to 83 this year, starts the new season hungry to get
back to the top and gain a berth in his country's Davis Cup
squad.

A fully-fit Philippoussis is expected to take the second
singles spot behind world number one Lleyton Hewitt in
Australia's first round clash against Britain in Sydney in
February.

"I am really looking forward to playing in India for the first
time," the Scud said.

"I have heard great things about the tournament through other
players and, hopefully, I can get a good start to the new year
here."

Canas, ranked 15th in the world, returns to defend the title
on the hard courts of the Nungambakkam stadium against a strong
32-man field that includes another top-20 player, Sjeng Schalken
of the Netherlands.

"Winning the last time in front of an enthusiastic crowd was
very special," said the Argentine, who went on to take the
Masters series crown in Toronto in July.

Home favorites Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathy will team up
with different partners in the doubles despite winning their
fourth Indian Open title 12 months ago.

Paes has paired with David Riki of the Czech Republic, while
Bhupathy will take the court with Australian doubles specialist
Todd Woodbridge.

All matches will be played under floodlights to beat the heat
in this southern Indian coastal city.

Seedings (country and world rankings in brackets):
1. Guillermo Canas (Arg-15)
2. Paradorn Srichaphan (Tha-16)
3. Sjeng Schalken (Ned-20)
4. Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg-23)
5. Andrei Pavel (Rom-26)
6. Rainer Schuettler (Ger-33)
7. Kristian Pless (Den-74)
8. Lars Burgsmuller (Ger-77)