Tennis: Injured Cilic out of Chennai Open

NEW DELHI: Two-time ATP Chennai Open winner Marin Cilic of Croatia has pulled out of the season-opening event due to a leg injury. The world number 21, who won the $0.45 million tournament in 2009 and 2010, said in a statement issued by the organisers that a tendon injury will keep him out of South Asia’s only ATP event, which begins on January 2. “Having started the previous five seasons at the Chennai Open, the city is a home away from home for me,” said Cilic. “I’ll surely be back next year.” World number 17 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland will defend his title against a strong field that includes world number nine Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and number 10 Nicolas Almagro of Spain.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2011.