Indian players Sumit Nagal and Arjun Kadhe on Friday got wild card entries into the singles and doubles main draw respectively for the fifth season of Tata Open Maharashtra.
South Asia’s only ATP 250 event will begin today at Balewadi Stadium on Saturday. The qualifying is scheduled on December 31 while the main event is scheduled from January 2 to 7. The 25-year-old Nagal is the second wild card entrant into the singles main draw after Mukund Sasikumar.
Nagal had featured in the French Open and US Open qualifiers earlier this year and also reached the quarterfinals of an ATP Challenger event in Germany in August. In singles, 17 top-100 players including world number 17 Marin Cilic will take part.
The most awaited moment and golden phase for Indian tennis players are on the verge as this is the biggest tennis tournament that has ever happened in India. I am obliged and fortunate to have got the opportunity to play here.” The Pune-born Kadhe will play alongside Brazilian Fernando Romboli. The two finished runners-up together at the ATP Challenger event in Turkey in September.
The Maharashtra government has taken the initiative to host the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune in association with the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association. Entry in the qualifying round will be free. The qualifiers will be held on Saturday and Sunday while the main draw will be played from January 2 to 7.
