BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy: Chela, Mayer headline field in Bucharest

Chela, Mayer headline field in Bucharest Defending champion Juan Ignacio Chela will make an immediate return to competition, following Argentina’s win over Serbia in Davis Cup. The veteran is seeded first at the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy.

World No. 23 Juan Ignacio Chela is back in Romania to defend his title from last season. The 32-year-old returns to action after Argentina put together a 3-2 semifinal victory against Serbia in Davis Cup. He is 27-20 for the season.

Chela has been placed in the same half of the draw that includes: (4) Pablo Andujar, (7) Andreas Seppi and (8) Albert Montanes. Additional players in the section are Igor Andreev, Eric Prodon, Marius Copil, Victor Crivoi, Frederico Gil and Jeremy Chardy.

After an opening-round bye, Chela is scheduled to begin his run against a qualifier. The closest seed to the defending champion is Seppi, who looms as a possible quarterfinal opponent. Successful movement through the draw may set a semifinal clash with Andujar or Montanes.

World No. 24 Florian Mayer is set to join the field as the second seed. The German leads the bottom half of the draw along with (3) Marcel Granollers, (5) Tommy Robredo and (6) Potito Starace.

Following a first-round bye, Mayer will open his bid against either Carlos Berlocq or Andreas Haider-Maurer.