Tamil Nadu government's support for Chennai Open

Tamil Nadu government on Monday, gave Rs 1 crore as its contribution for organising the 17th ATP Aircel Chennai Open tennis tournament, starting on January 2 next year.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa presented the cheque to Tamil Nadu Tennis Association's Honorary Secretary CBN Reddy at the Secretariat here, a government release said.

Jayalalithaa had sanctioned Rs one crore as government contribution in 2005 also towards the same event, the release added.

Chennai Open is a popular tennis event where international players like Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya, Ivan Ljubicic, Marcos Baghdatis and Indian pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes have participated in the past.