Chennai, Dec 25 (UNI) Close on the heels of his former doubles partner Leander Paes's decision to skip the Chennai Open, Indian tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi also announced today that due to tendonitis, he would not be playing in the 416,000 dollar ATP event to be held here from January 1 to 7.

According to a press release by event managers IMG here, the 32 year-old was to partner Swede Simon Aspelin in the doubles.

But he was foced to pull out due to tendonitis of the right wrist.

Doctors have advised him rest for four or five days and start his rehabilitation and training after that.

Leander Paes had yesterday announced that he and his doubles partner Martin Damn would be playing in the Qatar Open at Doha this year instead of the Chennai Open.

Mahesh Bhupathi, who was training in London since the Doha Asian Games, developed a niggle in his wrist during the training.

The pulling out of Leander first and then Mahesh would come as great disappointment for tennis fans, who, according to the organisers, have been responding enthusiastically when the sale of tickets for this year's ATP World Tour edition began on December 23.

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