Top seed Janko Tipsarevic hopes to create magic with doubles partner Leander Paes in India

World No 9 Serbian Janko Tipsarevic is the top seed at the upcoming season-opening January 2-8 Aircel Chennai Open. However, it's his doubles campaign with India ace Leander Paes that the super Serb is eagerly anticipating. Paes and Tipsarevic have got together for India's only ATP Tour event after the Indian split with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi recently. While Bhupathi-Rohan Bopanna have been given top billing at the Chennai tournament, second-seeds Paes-Tipsarevic will be no pushovers.


Best tip: Top seed Janko Tipsarevic. Pic/Getty Images

Tipsarevic, having been to Chennai not once or twice but three times before, enjoys the crowd support here. And this time round, he believes the fans will be even more vociferous considering his partnership with "one of the world's greatest doubles players", Paes.


Doubles ace Leander Peas.

Excerpts from an interview:
How do you view the season-opening Chennai Open?
It's a great event... it's as simple as that. And that's the reason I'm playing in it for the fourth time.

Could you share some of your significant experiences in Chennai?
Even though I somehow never expected it coming here, I'd like to admit that the crowd here has been amazing. And that's true even if I'm playing against an Indian player. It gets even more exciting especially if it's a night fixture.