Top 5 matches at the Aircel Chennai Open over the years

The Aircel Chennai Open has witnessed several memorable matches over the years; the fans have been treated to scintillating tennis from some of the best players in the world. India’s only ATP event has been home to many talented players as they look to start the season on a high by doing well in Chennai!Stan Wawrinka clinched the singles title last year and went on to win his maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open. Marin Cilic, a two-time Chennai Open champion, won his first Major in the form of the US Open last year. The likes of Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya, Pat Rafter and Boris Becker have also played in this ATP 250 event.Let us take a look at some of the best matches played at the AircelChennai Open over the years:

#5 Karol Kucera vs Fabrice Santoro, 2002 quarterfinals

Karol Kucera was nobody’s favourite to reach the last four in 2002 as he took on third seed Fabrice Santoro in the quarterfinals. But the man known as the ‘Little Cat’ got off to a brilliant start and dominated proceedings to take the first set 6-2.

Santoro did not back down though, as he staved off four match points – two in the 10th game when Kucera served for the match, and two more in the tie-break – before wrapping up the second set on the 20th point of the tie-break.

Kucera’s backhand was working like magic and he was returning superbly too, piling on winners as the match went on. Santoro on his part hit some terrific forehand slices and powerful backhands to negate Kucera’s backhand approach shots. The Frenchman was in trouble in the 10th game of the decider at 0-40, but managed to escape with some fine serving to send the set to a tie-break.

Kucera played a low forehand cross volley to seal the match in his favour. The Slovak received a standing ovation for his giant killing effort.

Match Result: Karol Kucera beat Fabrice Santoro 6-2, 6-7 (9), 7-6 (5).

#4 Somdev Devvarman vs Carlos Moya, 2009 second round

Former World No. 1 and French Open Champion Carlos Moya took on Somdev Devvarman for the first time in the 2009 second round. Moya was the first to break in the second game, before Devvarman evened things at 3-3. Another break in the 10th game handed the set to the Spaniard 6-4.

The Indian was not ready to go away though, as he broke in the 11th game of the second set and held his serve to force a decider.

Devvarman saved six break points in the second game of the third set before breaking Moya’s serve in the third game. The Indian played with aplomb to deny the Spaniard any chance of getting back into the contest.

"I sent a message to him that I just wasn't going to go away. When you see a player on the other side trying to do too much, you know he's under pressure," said Devvarman.

"The heat affected me more than it bothered him," Moya said.

"[Devvarman] plays much better than his rankings reflect," Moya added. "I was not surprised, because I saw him play two days ago and knew he was very fast and was solid from the back of court."

Match Result: Somdev Devvarman beat Carlos Moya 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

#3 Carlos Moya vs Paradorn Srichaphan, 2005 final

Carlos Moya battled hard against Paradorn Srichaphan in the finals of the 2005 tournament. Srichaphan was too good for the Spaniard in the first set as he hit several backhand down-the-line winners with ease to take a 2-0 lead. With the top seed unable to match him from the backcourt, the first set came to a quick end in 32 minutes.

But Moya got his serve right in the second set and came back from a 0-2 deficit to level the scores at 3-3. The Spaniard earned a crucial break in the eighth game as Srichaphan committed two double faults to go 3-5 down. The Thai player struck right back, but he missed an approach volley in the 10^th game to hand Moya the second set.

Srichaphan ran away to a 5-2 lead in the third set and was serving for the championship. But Moya showed tremendous resolve to take the set to a tiebreak. The Spaniard took a 5-3 lead in the tiebreak, and two backhand errors from the Thai gave Moya his second Chennai Open crown in a row.

Match Result: Carlos Moya beat Paradorn Srichaphan 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).

#2 Milos Raonic vs Janko Tipsarevic, 2012 final

Milos Raonic was loooking for his second title on the ATP tour as he took on the Serb Janko Tipsarevic in the 2012 final. Tipsarevic was under pressure at 1-2 in the first set as he saved four break points, while Raonic was solid on his serve as he hit 10 aces to take the set to a tie break. The Serb led 5-3 in the breaker and did not give any openings to the Canadian, clinching the opening set 7-6 (4).

Raonic returned superbly in the second set and Tipsarevic was found wanting on three occasions where he had to dig deep to stay in the contest. Raonic was in trouble in the eighth game, but saved two break points, and the second set went to a tiebreak as well. The Canadian led 4-1 and took the set on his second set point opportunity. He hit 13 aces in the second set.

The third set saw Raonic strugling to hold serve in the first game, but he managed to stave off the stiff resistance form Tipsarevic and save two break points. Tipsarevic saved one break point at 3-4 and the final was decided in a tiebreak. Raonic proved the potency of his serve yet again as he sped to a 5-0 lead and took it 7-6 (4) to win second title of his career.

Match Result: Milos Raonic beat Janko Tipsarevic 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4).

#1 Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Moya, 2008 semifinal

It was a battle of the Spaniards in the 2008 semifinal as Rafael Nadal took on Carlos Moya. Nadal saved four match points in the second set tiebreak and came back from being a break down in the third set as he clinched the final set tiebraker 7-1.

The match lasted for three hours and 53 minutes as Nadal prevailed over his idol Moya in the marathon match to advance to the final.

Match Result: Rafael Nadal beat Carlos Moya 6-7 (3), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (1).