5 most dominant players at the Aircel Chennai Open

The Aircel Chennai Open has developed a firm foothold on the ATP calendar which sees a steady influx of top stars every year. For some, this event has become one of the most successful tournaments of their career as they have dominated it year after year.As the Aircel Chennai Open celebrates glorious 20 years in 2016, we take a look back at five of the most dominant players at South Asia’s only ATP tournament:

#5 Leander Paes/Mahesh Bhupathi

Any mention of the Chennai Open remains incomplete without naming Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. This tournament remains one of the most successful events for the former World No. 1 pair. The marquee Indian duo won the title five times that includes a hattrick (1997-1999), besides winning it again in 2002 and 2011.

Leander added the title once more with Janko Tipsarevic in 2012 and finished second best in 2015, when he partnered South African Raven Klaasen. Bhupathi too made it to the final once more with a different partner – Jonas Bjorkman, in 2005.

#4 Janko Tipsarevic

Similar to Wawrinka, former World No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic too reigned supreme in singles as well as doubles in Chennai. After being a semi-finalist twice, the Serbian reached his maiden singles final in 2012. In a terrific match that involved three tie-breaks, Tipsarevic was edged by the promising Milos Raonic.

Tipsarevic continued to thrive in the Tamil Nadu capital as he booked his berth in the final once again the very next year. This time he was successful and laid his hands on the singles trophy for the first time after prevailing over Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets.

Tipsarevic’s love affair with Chennai did not end just in singles. In doubles, the Serb struck gold with India’s very own Leander Paes in 2012. He also reached the doubles final earlier in 2010.

#3 Marin Cilic

The only other player in the Chennai Open history to conquer the tournament for two consecutive years besides Moya and Wawrinka is Marin Cilic. The Croatian, who went on to win the 2014 US Open, had considerable success at this South Indian city.

He first made it to the semi-finals of both singles and doubles in 2008. The very next year he came back to win it for the first time, breaking Indian hearts by beating local boy Somdev Devvarman.

In 2010, the Croat won it once more, getting the better of future winner Stan Wawrinka. Cilic’s campaign for a hattrick was halted early in 2011 as he fell in the opening round to Kei Nishikori.

#2 Carlos Moya

Before Wawrinka stole the hearts of the Chennai crowd, it was Carlos Moya who ruled the roost at this ATP 250 tournament, so much so that he was given the epithet ‘King Carlos’. The beloved Moya was the undisputed champion for two consecutive years (2004-2005). Just like Wawrinka this year, he too attempted a hattrick but fell short in the 2007 final to Ivan Ljubicic.

Undeterred, Moya returned once more next year and tried his best to reach the summit clash again. He was stopped in the semi-finals in a riveting three-set match by his junior compatriot and future 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, despite holding four match points.

#1 Stan Wawrinka

Reigning French Open champion Stan Wawrinka has literally become Chennai’s adopted son after his stupendous success in the Tamil Nadu capital over the years. In seven years, the Swiss World No. 4 has captured the singles trophy three times, besides lifting the doubles as well.

Without a doubt, defending champion Wawrinka is the most successful player in the 20-year history of the Chennai Open.

It was in 2010 that the two-time Grand Slam winner reached the singles final of the Chennai Open for the first time but he ended up as a runner-up to Marin Cilic. The Swiss was quick to rebound from that loss as he won his first title the very next year. He regained the title in 2014 and successfully defended it the next year.

This year, Wawrinka will be going for an unprecedented hattrick.

In between, the man with the brilliant backhand teamed up with his friend, Frenchman Benoit Paire to clinch the 2013 doubles title. He had also reached the doubles final once before in 2009.