The $ 430,000 Gold Flake Open will be held in the same week as the tournaments in Doha ($ One Million) and Adelaide (about $ 300,000), said ATP tour's Executive Vice-President Brad Drewett but pointed out that a Chennai stopover would be as attractive to players coming out of a six-week season ending rest period, and ahead of the Australian Open (third/fourth week of January).

As regards the reasons for shifting the Chennai tournament, Drewett said: ``The players have been incredibly impressed. But for geographical reasons, we decided to shift the dates, and I am informed that weather in Chennai during January is wonderful.''