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AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN: DAY 3 MEDIA NOTES Wednesday, January 6, 2016

SDAT Stadium, Chennai, India | January 4-10, 2016 Draw: S-28, D-16 | Prize Money: $425,535 | Surface: Outdoor Hard

ATP Info: Tournament Info: ATP PR & Marketing: www.ATPWorldTour.com www.aircelchennaiopen.org Fabienne Benoit: [email protected] Twitter: @ATPWorldTour @chennaiopen Facebook: facebook.com/ATPWorldTour facebook.com/chennaiopen Press Room: +91 44 32220412

SEEDS WAWRINKA, BAUTISTA AGUT, GARCIA-LOPEZ, CORIC IN ACTION

 DAY 3 PREVIEW: Second round action at the Aircel Chennai Open on Wednesday features top seed and three-time champion , No. 4 and ’13 finalist , No. 5 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and No. 8 Borna Coric. Seven of the top eight seeds (except No. 7 Pospisil) are the second round.

In the opening match on Stadium Court, Coric takes on American left-hander for the first time. The 19-year-old Croat, who was the youngest player to finish in last year’s Top 50 Emirates ATP Rankings at No. 44, is one of two teenagers (Rublev) trying to reach the quarter- finals. Coric won a personal-best 26 matches on the ATP World Tour in 2015. Last season Krajicek finished a year-end best No. 105, reaching the quarter-finals in Memphis and Tokyo.

In the second match on, Wawrinka squares off with 18-year-old Russian wild card for the first time. The Swiss native comes in with a 19-4 career record in Chennai, having won the title in 2011 and the last two years. He’s won 16 consecutive sets since falling to Aljaz Bedene in the quarter-finals in 2013. Rublev is trying to reach his first career ATP World Tour singles quarter- final and post his first Top 10 win. Last year he advanced to the 2R six times on the ATP World Tour and he fell to No. 10 Marin Cilic in three sets in the 2R of Geneva in May.

In the final match on Stadium Court, Aussie meets Bautista Agut for the first time on the ATP World Tour. Millman won the previous meeting on clay at the Futures #7 in 2009. Millman, who saved two match points in his 1R win over on Monday, is trying to advance to his first career ATP World Tour quarter-final. Bautista Agut, who reached his maiden ATP World Tour final here three years ago, also was a semi-finalist last season.

On Court 1, qualifier Ante Pavic of looks to beat a Spaniard for the second straight round as he faces Garcia-Lopez for the first time. On Monday, Pavic beat Nicolas Almagro in a third set tie-break. Garcia-Lopez is eyeing his 10th career match win (9-5) in Chennai. He advanced to the semi-finals in his debut in 2005 and was a quarter-finalist in ’08 and last year.

 STAN THE MAN: Last season Wawrinka compiled his best season on the ATP World Tour, winning a career-high four titles (Chennai, Rotterdam, Roland Garros, Tokyo). En route to his second crown at Roland Garros, Wawrinka beat No. 2 Federer (QF) and No. 1 Djokovic (F) along the way. He compiled a personal-best 55-18 match record. Wawrinka is appearing in Chennai for the eighth straight year. Along with his three titles, he also reached the final in 2010. Chennai is the only tournament Wawrinka has won multiple times in his career.

 ATP MEDIA INFO ON TWITTER: New in 2016, the ATP World Tour has launched a dedicated Twitter account for the latest information, facts and figures about players and events. Follow @ATPMediaInfo at twitter.com/ATPMediaInfo for timely updates to complement daily media notes.

Aircel Chennai Open Day 3 – Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Page 2 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

DAY 3 FEDEX ATP 2 HEADS – In Order of Play by Court

STADIUM COURT

[8] Borna Coric (CRO) vs Austin Krajicek (USA) First Meeting

Coric 2015 FastFacts: SF(2): Dubai (l Federer); Nice (l Mayer); QF(3): Estoril (l Garcia-Lopez); Umag (l Bautista Agut); Winston Salem (l Anderson) 2015 W-L: 26-28 (12-18 on hard) 2015 Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: November 14, 1996 Emirates ATP Ranking: 44 Chennai W-L (Best Result): 2-1 (2R in 2015-16)

• The young Croat is appearing in 2R for second straight year after beating Marcel Granollers 76 26 64 on Monday. Last year fell in 2R to eventual champion Wawrinka 61 64 • In 2015, ended season as only teenager in Top 50 of Emirates ATP Rankings at No. 44 • Achieved career-high No. 33 on July 27, 2015 after reaching Umag QF (l. to Bautista Agut) • His 26 wins in 2015 were most among teenagers on ATP World Tour • Advanced to Dubai SF as a (d. No. 3 Murray in QF, l. to No. 2 Federer in SF) • Reached 2nd SF of season and 3rd of career at Nice (l. to L. Mayer) • Grand Slam results: 1R (l. to Chardy), Roland Garros 3R (l. to Sock), Wimbledon 2R (d. Stakhovsky 97 in 5th, l. to Seppi) and US Open 1R (l. to No. 8 Nadal) • Advanced to 2R of 5 ATP Masters 1000 events, defeating junior rival A. Zverev at Cincinnati 76 in 3rd (l. to No. 5 Wawrinka in 3 sets) • Captured 2nd ATP Challenger title of career at Barranquilla, COL (d. Dutra Silva) • In Play-off vs. BRA, beat Souza and Bellucci to lead CRO back into World Group

Krajicek FastFacts: QF(2): Memphis (l Nishikori); Tokyo (l Wawrinka) 2015 W-L: 7-11 (7-9 on hard) 2015 Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: June 16, 1990 Emirates ATP Ranking: 104 Chennai W-L (Best Result): 1-0 (2R in 2016)

• The left-handed American made his debut Tuesday with a 67 64 64 win over countryman • In 2015, finished a year-end best No. 105 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, compiling a 7-11 match record • Earned 1st Grand Slam win at US Open (d. Giraldo in 1R, l. to Anderson in 2R) • Advanced to 1st of 2 ATP World Tour QFs as a qualifier at Memphis (d. Karlovic, l. to No. 5 Nishikori in 3 sets) and Tokyo (l. to No. 4 Wawrinka). Also qualified at Acapulco, ATP Masters 1000 Miami and Atlanta • Achieved career-high ranking of No. 94 in singles (Oct. 26) and No. 61 in doubles (Apr. 27) • Posted 20-16 record on ATP Challenger Tour, highlighted by title at Leon, MEX (d. Menendez-Maceiras)

[1] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs [WC] Andrey Rublev (RUS) First Meeting

Wawrinka 2015 FastFacts: W(3): Chennai (d Bedene); Rotterdam (d Berdych); Roland Garros (d Djokovic); Tokyo (d Paire); SF(5): Australian Open (l Djokovic); ATP Masters 1000 Rome (l Federer); US Open (l Federer); ATP Masters 1000 Paris (l Djokovic); Barclays ATP World Tour Finals (l Federer); QF(5): Marseille (l Stakhovsky); Geneva (l Delbonis); Wimbledon (l Gasquet); ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati (l Djokovic); Metz (W/O vs Kohlschreiber); ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai (l Nadal) 2015 W-L: 55-18 (37-12 on hard) 2015 Titles: 3 / Career Titles: 11 Date of Birth: March 28, 1985 Emirates ATP Ranking: 4 Chennai W-L (Best Result): 19-4 (Winner in 2011, ’14-15) Aircel Chennai Open Day 3 – Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Page 3 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

• The Swiss No. 2 has won 16 consecutive sets in Chennai over the last two years en route to titles, defeating Roger-Vasselin in ’14 and Bedene in ’15. Also won title in ’11 (d. Malisse). Has 19-4 career match record • In 2015, Swiss finished at No. 4 in Emirates ATP Rankings for 2nd straight season and in Top 10 for 3rd consecutive season • Captured his 2nd Grand Slam title as 30-year-old at Roland Garros to become oldest champion of event since Gomez in 1990 (d. No. 2 Federer in QF, No. 1 Djokovic in final) • Winner of 11 career titles, including Chennai (d. Bedene), Rotterdam (d. No. 7 Berdych) and Tokyo (d. Paire) in 2015. Owns 7-0 finals record in 2014-15 • In Australian Open title defense, reached SF in Melbourne (d. No. 5 Nishikori, l. to No. 1 Djokovic in 5 sets) • Reached Wimbledon QF for 2nd straight year, matching career-best showing (l. to Gasquet in 5 sets) • Advanced to US Open SF for 2nd time (also 2013), falling to countryman Federer • Along with No. 1 Djokovic, 1 of only 2 players to reach QF or better at all 4 Grand Slams in 2015 • Enters '16 having played in 43 consecutive Grand Slam main draws since major debut at '05 Roland Garros • Reached SF of Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for 3rd straight year (d. No. 2 Murray, l. to No. 3 Federer) • Best ATP Masters 1000 results were SF runs at Rome (d. No. 7 Nadal, l. to No. 2 Federer) and Paris (d. No. 6 Nadal, l. to No. 1 Djokovic in 3 sets -- snapping Serb's career-long 29-set win streak)

Rublev 2015 FastFacts 2015 W-L: 8-13 (5-8 on hard) 2015 Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: October 20, 1997 Emirates ATP Ranking: 185 Chennai W-L (Best Result): 1-0 (2R in 2016)

• The Russian teenager made his debut on Tuesday, defeating local qualifier Somdev Devvarman 63 36 63 • Third-youngest player (18 yrs., 2 mons.) in Top 200 Emirates ATP Rankings at No. 185 behind Americans No. 176 (17 yrs., 11 mons.) and No. 174 (18 yrs., 2 mons.) • Became youngest ATP World Tour doubles champion since 17-year-old Nadal at 2004 Chennai by winning title with 32-year-old countryman Tursunov (d. Albot/Cermak) • Ranks 4th among active players with 8 career wins before 18th birthday (Nadal 31, Hewitt 17, Gasquet 9) • Qualified at US Open (l. to Anderson in 1R) and (d. Verdasco, l. to Fognini in 2R) • Also advanced to 2R at Delray Beach (l. to Johnson), ATP Masters 1000 Miami (l. to Isner), Istanbul (l. to Giraldo) and Geneva (l. to No. 10 Cilic in 3 sets) • In Davis Cup play, clinched a World Group Play-off berth for RUS after winning 5th rubber vs. DEN (d. Pedersen) and ESP (d. Andujar) • Lost to Fognini in Davis Cup World Group Play-off (RUS d. ITA 4-1) • Advanced to 1st ATP Challenger SF on home soil at Moscow, RUS in June (d. Donskoy in QF, l. to Albot) • Achieved career-high ranking of No. 176 on Sept. 14 • Also reached St. Petersburg doubles SF with 33-year-old countryman Youzhny (l. to Knowle/Peya)

Teenagers in Top 200: In 2015, Andrey Rublev and Borna Coric were among the 10 teenagers to finish in the Top 200 Emirates ATP Rankings. The last time 10 teenagers finished in the Top 200 was in 2006. Here are the teenagers in the year-end Top 200: Player Rank Age Frances Tiafoe, USA 180 17 Years, 10 Months Taylor Fritz, USA 177 18 Years, 1 Month Andrey Rublev, RUS 174 18 Years, 1 Month , GER 83 18 Years, 7 Months Borna Coric, CRO 44 19 Years Jared Donaldson, USA 135 19 Years, 1 Month , RUS 152 19 Years, 6 Months Hyeon Chung, KOR 51 19 Years, 6 Months , AUS 80 19 Years, 7 Months EliasYmer, SWE 137 19 Years, 7 Months Aircel Chennai Open Day 3 – Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Page 4 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

John Millman (AUS) vs [4] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) First ATP Meeting First ATP Meeting: 09 Spain F7 (Spain) Clay R32 John Millman 4-6 6-3 6-3

Millman 2015 FastFacts: 2015 W-L: 5-9 (4-8 on hard) 2015 Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: June 14, 1989 Emirates ATP Ranking: 92 Chennai W-L (Best Result): 1-0 (2R in 2016)

• The native made his debut on Monday, saving two match points while defeating Russian Evgeny Donskoy 67(5) 64 76(6) • In 2015, Aussie finished in Top 100 Emirates ATP Rankings for 1st time at No. 92, completing comeback from right shoulder surgery in summer 2013 • Achieved career-high of No. 71 on Aug. 17, 2015 after winning Aptos, USA Challenger title. One year earlier, was ranked No. 1,101 on Aug. 18, 2014 • Compiled 26-13 record on ATP Challenger Tour with titles at Lexington, USA (d. Uchiyama); Aptos, USA (d. Krajicek); and Kobe, JPN (d. Daniel) • At Wimbledon, qualified for 1st time in 10 tries at a major and reached 2R (d. No. 19 Robredo, l. to Baghdatis in 5 sets) and (d. Robredo, l. to Isner) • Defeated Robredo for 3 of 7 tour-level wins in career (also 2013 Sydney 1R) • Started season by reaching 2R at hometown tournament in Brisbane (l. to Federer in 3 sets) • Fell in Australian Open 1R (l. to L. Mayer), Roland Garros qualifying (l. to Smith) and US Open 1R (l. to Stakhovsky)

Bautista Agut FastFacts: 2015 Highlights: F(2): Moscow (l Cilic); Valencia (l Sousa); SF(5): Chennai (l Bedene); Marseille (l Monfils); Munich (l Murray); Umag (l Sousa); St. Petersburg (l Raonic); QF: Barcelona (l Nishikori) 2015 W-L: 42-29 (26-17 on hard) 2015 Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 2 Date of Birth: April 14, 1988 Emirates ATP Ranking: 25 Chennai W-L (Best Result): 6-3 (Runner-up in 2013)

• The No. 4 Spaniard has a 6-3 career record in Chennai, reaching the final in his 2013 debut (d. No. 6 Berdych in QF, l. to No. 9 Tipsarevic). Last year fell in the SF (l. to Bedene in third set TB) • In 2015, Spaniard finished in Top 25 of Emirates ATP Rankings for 2nd straight season at No. 25 and in Top 100 for 4th consecutive year • Appeared in back-to-back finals at Moscow on Oct. 25 (l. to Cilic) and Valencia on Nov. 1 (l. to Sousa after saving 6 MPs in SF win over Johnson) • Advanced to Wimbledon 4R (l. to No. 2 Federer) and US Open 4R (l. to No. 1 Djokovic in 4 sets), matching career-best showing at a major (also 2014 Australian Open and US Open) • Played all 9 ATP Masters 1000 events, reaching R16 at Monte-Carlo (l. to No. 8 Berdych) and Madrid (l. to No. 5 Nishikori). Compiled 10-9 match record • At ATP World Tour 250s, reached SFs at Chennai (l. to Bedene), Marseille (l. to Monfils), Munich (l. to No. 3 Murray), Umag (l. to Sousa) and St. Petersburg (l. to No. 9 Raonic after saving 3 MPs in 2R win over Gabashvili) • Lost 5 matches in ’15 after holding MP, including Chennai SF to Bedene (4 MPs) • Enters '16 on a 17-match losing streak vs. Top 10 opponents (3-23 overall)

Aircel Chennai Open Day 3 – Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Page 5 of 5 www.ATPWorldTour.com

COURT 1

[Q] Ante Pavic (CRO) vs [5] Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) First Meeting

Pavic 2015 FastFacts: 2015 W-L: 0-2 (0-1 on hard) 2015 Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: March 7, 1989 Emirates ATP Ranking: 449 Chennai W-L (Best Result): 1-0 (2R in 2016)

Garcia-Lopez 2015 FastFacts: W(2): Zagreb (d Seppi); Bucharest (d Vesely); F: Shenzhen (l Berdych); SF: Estoril (l Gasquet); QF(4): Chennai (l Bedene); London / Queen's Club (l Anderson); Metz (l Klizan); Valencia (l Johnson) 2015 W-L: 31-25 (19-16 on hard) 2015 Titles: 2 / Career Titles: 5 Date of Birth: June 4, 1983 Emirates 2016 ATP Ranking: 27 Chennai W-L (Best Result): 9-5 (SF in 2005)