World number two Rafael Nadal [Images] will team up with fellow Mallorcan Bartolome Salva-Vidal at the Chennai Open, commencing at the SDAT Nungambakkam stadium on January 1.

The Spanish duo were given a doubles wild card entry.

Salva-Vidal was on Thursday also awarded the singles wild card along with India's Prakash Amritraj and Karan Rastogi [Images].

On his visit here in 2004, Nadal had won his first major ATP Tour title with his Spanish compatriot Tommy Robredo and then with some strong performances rose to become the world number two in singles.

Nadal, as a 16-year-old rookie in 2004, had lost in the first round to Frenchman Thierry Ascione.

A favourite to win the singles title in the tournament, Nadal will be looking forward to create history by winning the doubles too with Vidal.

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