In a bid to popularise tennis in the State, the Tamil Nadu Government today sanctioned an additional Rs 1 crore for organising the Chennai Open scheduled here later this month.

A cheque for Rs 2 crore was presented to the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) President M. A. Alagappan by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, a Government release said.

The State Government hiked its grant to Rs 2 crore this year based on a request from the TNTA.

The tournament will be held from December 31 to January 6.