2011 Chennai Open

Our friend, Paloma made us aware of a special event happening in Chennai and wondered if we wanted tickets. Turns out this even was a professional tennis match with some major players. We bought tickets for January 9th for the final men's singles and doubles matches. Chennai has had the honor of hosting this event for the last 12 or so years and we learned that they will host it for at least the next three years! It is so good for this city. We are excited and proud for them to hold this event.






At the gate entrance they handed out these lame, and cheesy paper visors. None of us actually wore them, but we all posed for the silly picture with them on our heads.

Men's Singles

The Men's Singles finals was a good match. The Swiss Wawrinka beat Malisse from Belarus. After both matches the winner and runner up were presented with trophies, scarves, and their checks. The scarves are an Indian tradition and a way of honoring winners and guests to their country.

Defeated

Victory!The Final Score

Men's Doubles

The Men's Doubles match up featured a famous Indian pair, Mahesh and Leander (who are currently in the Men's Doubles finals of the Australian Open). The crowd got really into them which was fun, but annoying at the same time. When the match got close the crowd would cheer loudly at anything good that happened for Mahesh and Leander, even cheering when the opposing team had service faults (very frowned upon in tennis circles). It was a very close match, and the Indian pair pulled out the win. We learned that these Mahesh and Leander, who have been playing together for quite a while, have a signature celebration that the crowd eagerly waits for...a chest bump. Towards the end of the match they finally did their signature chest bump and the crowd went wild. Besides the winning point, that was the loudest the crowd got.

The Chest Bump. A crowd favorite.

This is the video of the winning point. The crowd goes wild. (including Paloma who was standing right next to me -screaming) So awesome!

This little girl was waving her country's flag with much gusto. It was so cute and she was so happy to support her country!

The matches were an all day event. We had an amazing time and it was so great to be apart of this crowd. We cheered wildly right along with them...and participated in The Wave....(all of India refers to as the "Mexican Wave"..?) After all we might look like foreigners and referred to frequently as "the White People" but we live here too. Miles did get mistaken for one of the Swiss players while getting food during a short break between the Men's Singles and Doubles matches. It was great. Hilarious actually. I guess all us "White People" look alike. Truly was funny. Well, regardless, we swelled with pride right along with everyone else as India brought home the final victory. Way to go India!
-Jenny