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 [ Images ] Prakash Amritraj [ Images ] 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 [ Images ] 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.