Chennai Open 2017 wrap: Benoit Paire eases into the last four

Chennai Open 2017 wrap: Benoit Paire expectedly made it into the semis

Benoit Paire has eased into the last four of the Chennai Open. The Frenchman beat Aljaz Bedene 6-3 6-0. In other quarterfinal matches, we saw Dudi Sela beat Albert Ramos Vinolas 7-5 6-4 and Daniil Medvedev overcame Jozef Kovalik. Also, Mikhail Youzhny and Roberto Bautista Agut are battling for the final semifinal spot with both locked at 1-1 with respect to the sets won.

So it has been an interesting tournament. With Marin Cilic going out in the first match he played, there has been little star power in the tournament. And eventually there has been a complete lack of buzz.

We will have to wait and see that what kind of buzz the semifinals and the final get over the weekend but it has been a bit of a disappointment as the tournament has not been able to capture any kind of wide sports imagination. Also Read- Leander Paes is not retiring anytime soon

Also what has not helped is that the Indian players have once again had a poor show. But to be honest, you cannot expect the Indian players competing with some fine international players as far as singles goes. Also Read- Dudi Sela starts with a win at the Chennai Open

May be it was the original line-up itself that did not have much of an air around it and hence we have seen very little interest. Truth be told, while Cilic would have attracted some sort of a crowd if he had prevailed to play the final, it would have not made a big difference. This eventually remains our lasting memory of the tournament thus far – the lack of buzz about it.