Chennai: Indian ace Somdev Devvarman withdrew from the Chennai Open Tennis tournament here on Monday. Announcing this, Somdev said that he will not be competing in the tournament because of a recurring shoulder injury.
Somdev said, "With great disappointment I have to inform the fans and organisers of Chennai Open that due to a recurring shoulder injury I will not be able to participate in this year's event. Keeping the Australian Open in mind, my doctors have advised me to take this decision. I wish the tournament all the success and look forward to be back next year - fitter and stronger."
In the singles draw, Somdev was scheduled to play with Frenchman Eric Prodon, while in the doubles draw Somdev and his partner Treat Conrad Huey were pitted against the third-seeded pair of India's leading doubles player Leander Paes and Janko Tipsarevic, the World No.9 and top seeded singles player in Aircel Chennai Open 2012.
Edouard Roger-Vasselin from France will replace Somdev in the singles field and will play against countryman Prodon. Roger-Vasselin finds a place in the main draw as a lucky loser in the qualifiers where he lost to Japanese Go Soeda 4-6, 6-7(5).