After Carlos Moya grabbed the final Chennai Open wildcard, Yuki Bhambri now has to qualify for the main tournament.

By Bhagya Ayyavoo

A new bag of racquets? A gaming console? What would a rising teenage tennis star love as a New Year gift? Forget the luxuries, India's 17-year-old sensation Yuki Bhambri has set his heart on just one reward - a berth in the singles main draw of the Aircel Chennai Open. He wants to be third time lucky, in fact!

"I would love to (qualify for the event)," said Yuki in a telephonic interview with MobileESPN after landing in Chennai for the season-opening ATP Tour 250 tournament. Yuki who has received a wildcard to team up with former World No.1 Carlos Moya in doubles, added: "I have had a fabulous 2009. I really can't wait for 2010 to begin. I know I am really prepared for it. I am looking forward to playing the tournament here and hopefully qualify."

The Delhi lad may be just 17, but he's not new to the Chennai hardcourts. At the beginning of 2009, Yuki came very close to winning a match at the Chennai Open qualifying round. But was stopped by wildcard entrant Sanam Singh 4-6 6-4 6-1. In 2008, Yuki as a 15-year-old debutant fell to Kamala Kannan 5-7 4-6 in Round 1 of the qualifiers.

Now holding a career-best ranking of 335, Yuki has higher expectations. He feels his preparation will help him through during his third attempt. "I have worked hard in the last month and a half in the United States and have worked on my fitness. I am prepared to make a few rounds here."

The qualifying draws for the 15th edition of the tournament will be out on Friday.

The 2009 junior Australian Open champion, now focused on the men's tour missed the last couple of weeks of his scheduled season due to a back injury.

Yuki assured, "It is fine now. I am 100% fit." After saying that he revealed his New Year resolution, "I'll try to spend more time in the gym and put on some muscles. It's high time to be fit enough to compete with the big boys. I have to grow up quickly otherwise I'll to be left behind."

Australia's top junior player Bernard Tomic, who has been the Indian teenager's top rival on the junior circuit, has taken giant steps to be placed at No.286 in the ATP world rankings. The 17-year-old Aussie, who won a men's tour match at the 2009 Australian Open when he beat Potito Starace in the opening round, has been handed a wildcard for the season-opening Major Down Under as well as the ATP tune-up event in Brisbane.

Reflecting on that, Yuki said, "It's fair enough for Australia to back him up. They're looking for someone after Lleyton Hewitt. When you see boys of your age group doing well in different tournaments, it does motivate me to work even harder. If he can do well, you feel that you can make that level as well."

Yuki added, "Having said that, I am hoping that the Indian government can help us out by guiding the game to move forward. I am hoping that they would give us a fair bit of chance of whatever tournaments we have."