Moya confirms participation in Mumbai ATP event

Mumbai, Aug 3 (UNI) Former world number one Spain's Carlos Moya, a familiar face at the Chennai Open, has confirmed his participation for the 380,000 dollar Mumbai ATP event scheduled to begin on September 25.

Moya, who has the 1998 French Open title to his name, will join players of the calibre of Spain's Tommy Roberdo, Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, Nicholas Kiefer of Germany, Chile's Fernando Gonzalez and the present World number eight Mario Ancic, who have all confirmed their participation for the tourney, Mumbai's first ATP event, which will be held at the newly relaid hard courts of the Cricket Club of India.

''Carlos Moya is not ranked as high but he's a big star in India,'' said tournament director and former India Davis Cupper Gaurav Natekar in a release issued here today.

Along with the big guns in the singles event, India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes will lead the field in the doubles draw.

Prakash Amritraj, Rohan Bopanna, Harsh Mankad and Karan Rastogi will contest for the three wild cards at the tournament, the release added.

''All the wild cards will definitely go to the Indians,'' said Natekar, ''but we haven't decided the names yet. It will depend on the form and fitness of the player just before the event.'' Natekar also confirmed that it will be an outdoor hard court event and not indoor, as listed by the official ATP site.

UNI GS GB AY PC1659