World No. 4 Stan Wawrinka to Compete in 2016 Chennai Open, 20th Edition of The Event

Two-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 4, Stan Wawrinka will be back in Chennai to defend his title at the 2016 Aircel Chennai Open, to be held from January 4-10. This is the 20th edition of South Asia's only ATP event, worth $450,000. (Read more tennis stories here)

This will be the 2015 French Open champion and 2014 Australian Open winner's eighth visit to Chennai. Wawrinka will be looking to defend his title and claim a hat-trick of championship wins.

"Chennai Open is a great way to start the season, and I look forward to my eighth year at the tournament. The last two years have been extra special since I have gone on to win a Grand Slam each year after a winning start here in Chennai. So, Chennai has become like my good luck charm now," Wawrinka said.

"Being a landmark year for the tournament, I hope to reclaim my title and make this year even more special. I congratulate the organisers for bringing out this exciting contest year after year. I look forward to many more landmark editions of the Chennai Open."

Wawrinka's big serve, exceptional fitness level and powerful backhand, which is perhaps the best in the game, won him his second Grand Slam - the 2015 French Open 2015 at Roland Garros against World no. 1 Novak Djokovic in June.

The World no. 4 Wawrinka is the second player from Switzerland to win the Grand Slam on clay, joining his compatriot, and good friend, Roger Federer. The newly christened 'King of Clay' is in scintillating form.

Wawrinka started the year by successfully his Chennai Open title, which was his third title in Chennai and eighth ATP World Tour title overall. Then in the Australian Open, he beat Nishikori in quarter-finals before losing to Djokovic in five sets in the semi-finals.

Wawrinka won the Rotterdam trophy, his first indoor title and his first at an ATP World Tour 500 tournament. In June, Wawrinka won his second Grand Slam at Roland Garros defeating Djokovic, thus breaking the world No. 1's 16-match winning streak on clay.

Aged 30 years 71 days, he became the oldest man to win Roland Garros since Andres Gomez (aged 30 years 103 days) in 1990. He reached Wimbledon quarter-finals for second straight year, losing to Richard Gasquet in five sets.

At the recently concluded US Open, Wawrinka reached the semi-finals losing to Federer. Wawrinka has qualified for the year-ending ATP World Tour Finals for the third year in a row joining Djokovic, Andy Murray and Federer in the elite eight-man field.

The 2016 Chennai Open will mark the 20th year of South Asia's only and India's premier ATP tournament.