Bhupathi plays beach tennis

Mahabalipuram:

World No 13 Martina Hingis has won it and so has former World No 2, Anastasia Myskina. And this year's edition of the Sunfeast Open promises many more big names from the world of tennis as Mahesh Bhupathi's attempt at popularising the game in India enters its third year.

The tier 3 WTA tournament is still more than a month away, but its already being publicised. Bhupathi was at hand with the first of the promotional activities. He was playing tennis but in a somewhat unique setting!

There was a makeshift tennis court by the beach in Mahabalipuram and an actor, a commentator, a squash player and a tennis ace paired for a fun encounter. After street tennis and mall tennis in the past beach tennis in Chennai heralds this year`s Sun Feast Open in Kolkata in the third week of September. The event is expected to draw some of the biggest names in women's tennis.

"We haven`t announced the player field yet. We will do that about 6 weeks before the event. Now we are trying to create awareness about it,' said Mahesh Bhupathi, Tennis Player & MD - Globosport.

Dressed like Maria Sharapova, squash champion Dipika Pallikal seemed to enjoy herself with a different racquet.

"It was so good to be playing opposite Mahesh," said Dipika Pallikal.

Leading actor Trisha managed a cocktail of cricket, baseball and tennis on court!

"I used to play tennis when I was in school. But ages since I last held the tennis racquet," she said.

With help from the match referee the Mahesh -Trisha duo romped home, leaving Charu Sharma with enough grist for his commentary!