Vijay describes Chennai Open field as strongest so far

Chennai, Dec 30 (UNI) The field is wide open and there is no weak match really, former tennis ace and Davis Cupper Vijay Amritraj said about the ATP Tour Chennai Open 2007 to be held here from January 1 to 7.

Vijay, who anchored the ceremony for the draw of lots for the singles matches today said Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Argentine David Nalbandian, the two stars and the top two seeds, may be the favourites, but the pressure would be on them especially Nadal to who will be playing the season's first match on unfamiliar courts here.

''There is no weak match in the draw. The field is easily the strongest so far in the Chennai event of the ATP tour'', Vijay, whose son Prakash, a wild card entry, would be carrying the weak Indian challenge, said.

Vijay, who played the key role in bringing an ATP World Tour event to India for the first time in 1996 and then got it shifted to Chennai, said every match this year has the potential to go the full distance.

Vijay also observed that once again the field in Chennai has many emerging young players like Spain's Bartolome Salva Vidal.

''We have to see how the likes of him would fare this time Many young players have shot off well on the tour from here'', Vijay said.

Vijay also observed that even the field for the qualifying round was tough this year in the Chennai Open-four Indians figure in it.

About his son Prakash's progress, Vijay observed that he was not pressurising Prakash to improve his ATP rankings. ''He is concentrating on his fitness and all round improvement'', he added.

Prakash has had a good first half last season. But an injury forced him to miss some tournaments on the tour, Vijay added.

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