World number five Nikolay Davydenko (picture right) of Russia leads a strong field for the season-opening ATP Chennai Open from January 5-11, organisers said on Monday. Davydenko will be joined by world number 13 Stanislas Wawrinka in the $ 450,000 event, now in its 14th year.

Others taking part in India’s biggest ATP tournament are the Croatian trio of Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic and Ivan Ljubicic, and Spanish veteran Carlos Moya. World number one Rafael Nadal, who is recovering from a knee injury, will not make his third successive appearance here.

The Bryan brothers of the United States, Mike and Bob, will lend spark to the doubles field that includes Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. While Bhupathi teams up with Mark Knowles of the Bahamas, Paes will partner Lukas Dlouhy of the Czech Republic.