Yuki Bhambri gets Chennai Open wild card

India's rising tennis player Yuki Bhambri has been awarded a wild card entry in the main draw of the 18th ATP Aircel Chennai Open, from December 31 to January 6.

Yuki joins an impressive field, which includes four top 20 players -- Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych (No. 6), Janko Tipsarevic (No. 9), twice winner Marin Cilic (No. 15) and Stanislas Wawrinka (No. 17).

The grid also consists of Yuki's compatriot Somdev Devvarman, who was accorded a wild card entry earlier.

In the 17th edition of Chennai Open, 20-year-old Yuki had shocked world No. 101 Karol Beck in just 79 minutes.

In 2009, Yuki became the first Indian to win the junior Australian Open, while this May he got the better of Amir Weintraub in straight sets to win his first ATP Challenger singles title, in Fergana, Uzbekistan.

"We constantly look at ways to promote domestic talent and we are happy to award Somdev and Yuki wild cards into the singles main draw," Tom Annear, the Tournament Director, said.