Janko Tipsarevic Counts on Improvement in Game and Big Wins on World Tour to Win Aircel Chennai Open 2013

After losing the season-opening title by a whisker in 2012, Tipsarevic looking forward to clinching the title this year in probably the strongest field coming to Chennai

CHENNAI, December 14, 2012: Buoyed by a great season in 2012 and wins against the best in the world, World No. 9 Janko Tipsarevic feels the overall improvement in his game would take him to a title win in the Aircel Chennai Open 2013.

The Serbian almost started 2012 as the winner in the season-opener at Chennai but had to end up as runner-up after a hard-fought epic three-hour 14-minute singles final against 21-year-old Canadian Milos Raonic. However, it was a small consolation that few hours later he won his first ATP World Tour doubles crown, for which he had teamed up with Indian star Leander Paes.

“I have improved my game in all aspects but the biggest change came in my mindset and how I was able to keep up with the constant pressure. I feel it is mainly the attitude on court,” he said speaking about the changes made to his game during the 2012 season.

Aircel Chennai Open 2013 will mark World No. 9 Janko Tipsarevic’s sixth visit to India’s tennis capital to participate in South Asia’s only ATP World Tour stop. Before coming to India last year, he defeated world No. 1 and compatriot Novak Djokovic in the 2011 year-end World Tour finals in London. This year, he is back after beating the best player in the world for a second time.

“It’s not easy playing against Novak. I was trying to be more aggressive than him and for those matches things went my way,” he confessed recollecting his win over the World No.1.

As one of the top ranked players for the Chennai tournament, Tipsarevic is looking forward to kick starting the new season in style. “It’s a great event. You have been seeing a lot of me in the last few years, and every year I am playing better and better as you can see and I really want to win the whole thing this year,” he said smiling as he talked of the Aircel Chennai Open 2013. “The Indian crowd is great. And the fact that we play out matches in the evening makes the atmosphere even more electric,” he added.

Tipsarevic has had an exciting run this season, reaching the semis at the Madrid Open, winning the ATP World Tour Title in Stuttgart, making it to the Swiss Open final and the quarterfinals of the US Open. The Belgrade native served as an alternate in the 2011 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals but qualified outright for the first time this year.

“Making it to the world tour finals was a big goal of mine and the fact that I made it directly this year is an even bigger achievement”, he said cheerfully, ahead of opening the new season at Chennai’s SDAT-Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium. Tipsarevic is among the highest ranked players in an exciting field for the 18th edition of this leading ATP World Tour event.

Fully believing in Mohammad Ali’s wise saying – ‘'Don't count the days, make the days count’ – the mature Serbian is one among numerous leading tennis players to have come out of the small country. Most budding players are encouraged and supported by their families during the early stages of their career, according to Tipsarevic. Talking about tennis in his home country, he said, “We have a lot of youngsters playing tennis now because the sport is more popular than ever. A lot of personal hard work goes into coming up and I am positive that in the near future we will be producing more champions.”

A true countryman who has been representing Serbia for the past 13 years, he was upset after losing to the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final this year but is confident of putting up a great show in the forthcoming edition of the tournament. “Losing the Davis Cup is never easy, especially for a guy like me who takes it emotionally, he said recalling the loss.

India’s ace tennis player and best bet in this year’s tournament, Somdev Devvarman, has been granted a wild card entry into the tournament. “He has been unlucky with his injury lately, but I am sure he will be back. Chennai is a great place to start the comeback,” said Tipsarevic, talking of Devvarman, who is a good friend.

In his free time, the 28-year-old loves to read books on sociology and when in India, gorge on chicken tikka and butter chicken. Music is a big passion and a major part of his life. “I like electronic house music and follow and enjoy Swedish artists on the tour,” said the World No.9 whose hobby is DJing and absolutely loves it when crowds dance to his music!

When life gets hectic, favourite movies like Donnie Brasco and The Usual Suspects help him relax. And when there’s some time, Tipsarevic heads to his favourite holiday destination, the Maldives, with his wife. But this New Year weekend, it's game time in Chennai for Tipsy!

ABOUT AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN 2013

The USD 430,000 Aircel Chennai Open, owned by IMG and operated and organized by IMG Reliance, is India's only and South Asia's premier ATP World Tour Open 250 event. Started in 1996, by IMG, a global leader in sports management and marketing, the tournament has completed sixteen successful years of existence, branding Chennai and India on the global tennis map thus creating a legacy of sorts of promoting international tennis in India. Winner of the prestigious ATP's Player Services Award of Excellence (2006) for its outstanding organization and wonderful hospitality towards the participants and ATP's Best Marketing Award (2008), the event has acquired the status of a much sought-after tennis event for both players and fans alike in the International tennis circuit. The 18th edition of the tournament will be held from December 31, 2012 to January 6, 2013 at the SDAT Tennis stadium in Nungambakkam, Chennai. The tournament is conducted in Chennai under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and is organized with the active collaboration of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA).

ABOUT IMG RELIANCE:

In 2010 Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India's largest and most recognized private sector company, and IMG Worldwide (IMG), the world’s leading sports marketing and Management Company announced the formation of an equal joint venture to develop, market and manage sports and entertainment in India. The joint venture company, IMG Reliance Pvt. Ltd., will create and operate major sports and entertainment assets in the country.  In its first initiative, IMG Reliance entered into an agreement with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) to create a new professional basketball league and manage all aspects of the commercial rights to the game in India. IMG Reliance signed a 15-year agreement with the AIFF, to improve, popularize and promote the game of football throughout India, from the grassroots to the professional level.  IMG Reliance has also created a scholarship program to identify and train talented young Indians from sports including - basketball, soccer and tennis–at IMG’s world-class sports training facilities at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida.