Malisse will take it match by match to defend title

Chennai, Dec 30 (UNI) Chennai Open defending champion Xavier Malisse today said his immediate focus would be to train hard for the new season and play more international matches.

Talking to newspersons here today, on the eve of Chennai Open 008 beginning here tomorrow, he said ''I played only two matches in seven months on the 2007 Tour due to injury''.

Malisse was sidelined for six months after his wrist injury before returning at US open in late August where he defeated Kristian Pless in the first round but lost the next round to Nalbandian of the Netherlands.

''For the past one and-a-half months I am practising hard for the new season and I am in good shape for big matches'', he said, adding ''I am happy that I am healthy again''.

He said ''I am even more focussed because I have not played for nine months''.

''I will be participating in more matches in the coming season'', he said adding ''the more matches you play the more matches you win''.

On his chances of defending his Chennai Open singles title, Malisse said ''I will be concentrating round by round''.

While recollecting the semi final match in which he defeated world no 2 Rafael Nadal in the last Chennai Open, he said ''the match against Nadal was one of my best displays on the court''.

UNI