Home boss Roy Keane opted to field Daryl Murphy and Anthony Stokes as his attacking pair, while new signings Craig Gordon, Paul McShane, Kieran Richardson and Dickson Etuhu were all handed full debuts.
Martin Jol partnered Dimitar Berbatov with Robbie Keane up front, with Younes Kaboul debuting in central defence in the absence of the injured Michael Dawson and Ledley King.
The early minutes saw little goalmouth action at either end, with heavy rain starting to fall at the Stadium of Light.
Spurs' midfield started to exert some domination in terms of possession as the half wore on but, shorn of the services of the injured Aaron Lennon, lacked the width needed to worry the Black Cats backline.
Keane eventually tested Gordon as the clock neared the half-hour mark, while visiting keeper Paul Robinson was enjoying a quiet start to the new campaign.
Seven minutes later the home side should have broken the deadlock. Murphy was given time and space at the far post, but dallied too long and Robinson was out smartly to block the low shot.
Etuhu fired narrowly wide as half-time beckoned, after Berbatov had spurned a half-chance at the other end.
The opening period after the interval was still lacking in action in either box, with Keane soon introducing Liam Miller in place of the ineffective Dwight Yorke.
Jol responded by throwing on record signing Darren Bent in place of Teemu Tainio, with the England man moving up front alongside Berbatov, with Keane dropping into a more withdrawn role.
Still neither keeper was seriously tested and both sides made further changes, with £5million man Chopra coming on for his Sunderland bow.
Visiting substitute Tom Huddlestone worried the home support late on as he fired in a long-range effort, but it was straight down the throat of the under-worked Gordon.
Sunderland then almost snatched a dramatic win, as Etuhu nearly touched a free-kick home, but Robinson was down smartly to avert the danger.
However, they were not to be denied as Ross Wallace found space on the right and his cross found Chopra, who had time to place a low shot into the corner of the net beyond the stranded Robinson.