Roberto Bautista Agut confirms availability for Chennai Open 2015

Chennai: World No. 15 Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday confirmed his participation in the 20th edition of the Aircel Chennai Open tennis tournament, scheduled to be held at SDAT Stadium here from January 5 to 11.

The Spanish tennis player had been a part of the Chennai Open in the last two seasons as well. He played here as an unseeded and first-time ATP World Tour finalist in 2013 and as a World No. 59 in 2014.

This time, he would be here as 15th ranked player after a season of fantastic victories and having won the ATP’s Most Improved Player of the Year award.

At Chennai Open, one of the first tournaments of the year, the right-handed player will join top stars like World No. 4 Stan Wawrinka, World No.14 debutant Feliciano Lopez, ACO 2013 Singles Champion Janko Tipsarevic.

Agut will be looking to better his 2013 performance, where he finished runner-up after losing a hard-fought three-setter against Janko Tipsarevic in a memorable final.

“I have happy memories at the Aircel Chennai Open and am pleased to confirm my participation in the 20th edition of the tournament, my third visit to India to fire up the new season.

“I like the city, the crowd support and the playing environment. World No. 15 feels great and 2014 has been the best year in my career. I look forward to playing in Chennai and maintaining my form in the new season,” said Agut.

The 26-year-old Agut has climbed 50 spots from his year-end Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 64.

Agut had a successful 2014 -- advancing to the fourth round of the Australian and US Open, the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open, falling only to Rafael Nadal, and other events like third round of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai, and being runner-up at Moscow.