Jeevan-Rohan pair to defend ATP title

PUNE: Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Rohan Bopanna will kick-start their 2018 campaign at the Tata Open Maharashtra, the ATP 250 Series event to be held here from January 1to 6.Nedunchezhiyan and Bopanna are the defending champions, having won the title last season when the $550,000 Tour event was held in Chennai.Bopanna, however, has tied up with 34-year-old former French Open champion Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Nedunchezhiyan with Indonesia's Christopher Rungkat for the rest of the season.Besides the duo, the field will feature at least three more Indians with Purav Raja combining with Leander Paes and Divij Sharan with American Scott Lipsky; the last two making the final cut-off.Indians (rankings in bracket) with direct entry: 1. Rohan Bopanna (18); 2. Divij Sharan (47); 3. Purav Raja (60); 4. Leander Paes (63); 5. Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (102).