Bopanna, Ramkumar secure direct entry into doubles main draw at Tata Open Maharashtra 2022
Grand Slam runners-up Max Purcell and Luke Saville are also part of 14-pair direct acceptance list
 
Tournament to be held in a bubble without spectators
 
Pune, January 18, 2022: India’s Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan have received a direct entry into the doubles main draw at the fourth edition of Tata Open Maharashtra, organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) and scheduled at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune from January 31 to February 6.

The Indian pair, who won the Adelaide International ATP-250 event earlier this month by stunning the top seeds, have earned a spot in the main draw with a combined ranking of 156. The direct acceptance list consists of 14 pairs with a cut off being 250. One of the country’s oldest sporting events Tata Open Maharashtra is owned by IMG and operated by RISE Worldwide in India.

In 2019, the Asian Games champion star doubles player Bopanna lifted the title of this tournament with Divij Sharan while Ramkumar had a semi-final finish in the last edition with Purav Raja. Now Playing together, Bopanna and Ramkumar will look to carry forward their brilliant start to the year when they return to Pune.

The 2020 Australian Open finalists Max Purcell and Luke Saville have also been included in the doubles main draw. The 23-year-old Australian Purcell has paired up with compatriot Matthew Ebden, who will be returning to Pune after being featured in the last edition with Indian great Leander Paes. Saville will play alongside John-Patrick Smith.

“It’s always a great feeling to see Indians getting a direct entry at the Tata Open Maharashtra as our aim is to give Indian players that much-needed platform. This tournament has always witnessed Indians performing well in doubles and I hope it continues this year too. But not to forget, they will be up against a strong challenge for the title as we have got a strong field this year too,” said Tournament Director Mr Prashant Sutar.

Among the players, who have secured direct entries in both singles as well as doubles main draws are: teenage sensation Lorenzo Musetti, 2018 US Open semi-finallist Radu Albot, Ricardas Berankis and Stefano Travaglia.

South Asia’s only ATP Tour tournament is returning after a two-year break, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, considering the current situation and Omicron scare, the tournament will be held in a bubble without spectators.
“With a less than two weeks to go, we are trying hard to get everything done on time. From obtaining the visas of the players as well as multiple clearances that are required from the State Government as well as the Central Government as part of staging a tournament of this stature during these tough pandemic times,” said Mr Sanjay Khandare, Treasurer of Tata Open Maharashtra, who has been looking into all government permissions.

“We wanted fans to support their favourite stars from the stands but unfortunately the current scenario doesn’t allow it. Safety of players as well as other stakeholders involved is of prime importance to us and we have to follow strict bubble protocols. We will also be conducting covid tests as per the rules,” said Mr Pravin Darade, Organising Secretary of Tata Open Maharashtra as they are getting all these herculean tasks completed in a short time.

The former World No. 49 Illya Marchenko will be among the 11 direct acceptance entries into the singles qualifiers as they will fight for four main draw spots. The Ukrainian star Marchenko had beaten two-time Olympics champion and the former World No. 1 Andy Murray last year to clinch the ATP Challenger Tour title in Biella, Italy.

With cut-off at 173, Aleksander Vukic, who registered his career’s first Grand Slam main draw win at Australian Open on Monday, and Christopher O’Connell are among the other players to feature in the singles qualifying rounds, which will be played on January 30 and 31.
 
 
 

SR NO

NAME

COUNTRY

WORLD RANKING

TEAM RANKING

 

 

 

1.

Matthew Ebden

 

 

 

AUS

 

55

 

 

89

 

 

Max Purcell

 

 

34

 

 

 

2.

 

Luke Saville

 

 

 

AUS

 

23

 

 

91

 

 

John-Patrick Smith

 

68

 

 

 

3.

 

Rohan Bopanna

 

 

 

IND

 

43

 

 

 

156

 

 

Ramkumar Ramanathan

 

113

 

 

 

4.

 

Szymon Walkow

 

 

 

POL

 

100

 

 

 

183

 

 

Jan Zielinski

 

 

83

 

 

 

5.

 

Marc Polmans

 

 

 

AUS

 

107

 

 

 

184

 

 

Matt Reid

 

77

 

 

 

6.

 

Ivan Sabanov

 

 

 

SRB

 

94

 

 

 

184

 

 

Matej Sabanov

 

 

90

 

 

 

7.

 

Sander Arends

 

 

 

NED

 

97

 

 

 

195

 

 

David Pel

 

98

 

 

 

8.

 

Hans Hach Verdugo

 

 

 

MEX

 

101

 

 

 

207

 

 

Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela

 

106

 

 

9.

 

Radu Albot

 

MDA

 

 

              

               168

 

 

 

 

217

 

 

Ricardas Berankis

 

LTU

 

175

 

 

 

10.

 

Federico Gaio

 

 

 

ITA

 

173

 

 

 

219

 

 

Lorenzo Musetti

 

369

 

 

 

11.

 

          Sadio Doumbia

 

 

 

FRA

 

111

 

 

 

221

 

 

110

 

 

Fabien Reboul

 

 

 

12.

 

Stefano Travaglia

 

 

ITA

 

 

226

 

 

 

223

 

 

Bernabe Zapata Miralles

 

ESP

 

918

 

 

 

13.

 

Evan King

 

 

 

USA

 

117

 

 

 

 

233

 

 

 

              116

 

 

Alex Lawson

 

 

14.

 

Alexander Erler

 

 

 

AUT

 

127

 

 

 

250

 

 

Lucas Miedler

 

123