Chennai : The 2015 edition of the Aircel Chennai Open will mark twenty years since the very first game of India’s premier and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour stop was played. Today, the tournament has grown into a marquee ATP tennis event in South Asia, attracting the attention of some of the world’s top tennis stars. The20th edition of the Aircel Chennai Open will present an exceptional assembly of talent that includes four top-25 players and three 2014 ATP World Tour Award winners.
The USD 450,000 Aircel Chennai Open, owned by IMG and operated and organised by IMG Reliance, is India’s and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour event. Started in 1996, by IMG, a global leader in sports management and marketing, the event has completed 20 successful years of existence, branding Chennai and India on the global tennis map thus creating a legacy of sorts of promoting international tennis in India.
The 20th edition of the event in India and 19th in Chennai will be held from 5th – 11th January, 2015 at the SDAT Tennis stadium in Nungambakkam, Chennai. The tournament is conducted in Chennai with the active collaboration of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA).
The organizers of the Aircel Chennai Open also announced today the commencement of the sale of online tickets for the 20th edition. The online sale of season tickets for Aircel Chennai Open 2015 will commence at 08.00 hours on Friday, November 28, 2014 and fans can grab exciting early bird offers until November 30 on www.bookmyshow.com, the tournament’s Official Ticketing Partner. Tickets were priced at INR 5000, 3000 and 1500.
Tom Annear, Tournament Director, Aircel Chennai Open said, “In its 20th edition, the Aircel Chennai Open is proud to present a top line-up of stars in a very strong player field that underlines the tournament’s position as a marquee ATP tennis event in South Asia. I’m sure some great matches and edge of the seat action will make this a grand anniversary celebration indeed.”
Renuka Jaypal, National Brand Head, Aircel said, “We are pleased to launch Aircel Chennai Open 2015 with a highly competitive lineup of players who will really ensure the 20th edition pays tribute to the tournament’s fantastic achievements during the last two decades. Aircel is honoured to be associated with the prestigious tournament that really brings to the fore Chennai’s rich tennis culture and wishes the players the very best as they prepare to play.”
Mr. M. A. Alagappan, President of Tamil Nadu Tennis Association said, “We have reached an important milestone in Indian tennis and are all set to celebrate the 20th edition in a big way. The impressive playing field is just one indicator of the premier sporting extravaganza the Aircel Chennai Open is and we look forward to taking the tournament to greater heights in the seasons to come.
Ashu Jindal, Chief Operating Officer, IMG Reliance said, “This is a landmark year for the Aircel Chennai Open and we are pleased to present a line-up that reflects just that. The field includes Chennai’s favourite champions Stan Wawrinka and Janko Tipsarevic apart from a host of others who are playing top-notch tennis around the world. I am thrilled that with each passing year, we are getting better and better and are not just Chennai’s annual sporting extravaganza but the longest running annual tennis event in South Asia. The stage to celebrate the spirit of tennis is set and we look forward to a fantastic 20th year tournament.”
The Title Sponsor for the tournament is Aircel and the event is supported by a consortium of sponsors in the Platinum category, headed by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
IMG Reliance Pvt Ltd., is an equal joint venture between Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India’s largest and most recognized private sector company, and IMG Worldwide (IMG), the world’s leading sports marketing and management company. The joint venture company will develop, market and manage sports and entertainment in India. Its current assets include India’s premier fashion event, Lakmé Fashion Week and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour event, the Aircel Chennai Open.
