Somdev Devvarman [ Images ] was handed an easy opener but a tough second round match at the Chennai Open.

Somdev, a finalist at the event in 2008, opens against a qualifier. However, he faces a potential second round encounter against third seed Stanislas Wawrinka.

The Swiss, a beaten finalist in 2010, however, has to get past wild card Rohan Bopanna [ Images ] for the clash with Somdev to materialise.

Should the Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medalist get past Wawrinka, he faces a probable quarter-final against number eight seed Robin Hasse of the Netherlands.

And thereaafter lies a mouth-watering (prospective) semi-final against top seed and Wimbledon [ Images ] finalist Tomas Berdych, the Czech having been handed a relatively easy draw.

Meanwhile, second seed and two-time defending champion Marin Cilic [ Images ] of Croatia [ Images ] opens against Japan's [ Images ] Kei Nishikori before a potential semi-final against fourth seed Richard Gasquet of France [ Images ].