The Chennai Open officials have released the revised schedule for Day 5 as heavy drizzle continues to hamper the proceedings.

By Bhagya L Ayyavoo

The venue for the ATP tournament, the Nungambakkam tennis stadium wears a wet look and the officials are waiting for the drizzle to stop to dry the courts.

The revised schedule of the order of play is also out. Third-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka will play Michael Berrer in the first quarter-final match on center court followed by Marin Cilic, who takes on Santiago Giraldo tie.

Local favourites and third seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna will feature in the last encounter against Colin Fleming and Kevin Skupski of Great Britain.

Janko Tipsarevic’s match, that was originally the first match on center court has been moved to court No.2. The Serbian will battle Thiemo De Bakker for a semi-final spot. Dudi Sela will take on Lukas Lacko on court No.1.

Earlier, a spell of heavy late-night drizzle suspended play on January 6.

In the 14-year-history of India’s only ATP tournament, the event has never lost a full day’s play due to rain. Last season, the skies opened up during the second-round match between wild card Somdev Devvarman and sixth-seeded Carlos Moya. The match was played the next afternoon, which the Indian won 4-6 7-5 6-4.

Earlier, Chennai witnessed continuous drizzle since 9 am on Friday which hampered the practice sessions at the Aircel Chennai Open. However, the Regional Metrological Department in Chennai has rubbished reports of any low pressure formation in the Bay of Bengal. Director of Area Cylone Warning Centre in Chennai SR Ramanan has assured that there is, “No cyclone and no depression. It is only a trough which is generating clouds that breaks into light rain. There will be just an occasional drizzle kind of thing, light rain basically. There’s absolutely nothing major.” Ramanan added in a telephonic conversation to espnstar.com, “Rain will come in spells every now and then. That’s all. There’s nothing major.”