Indifferent form could see Sania out of top three seed in Sunfeast

Kolkata, Sep 9 (UNI) India's tennis sensation Sania Mirza may not be seeded within the top three for the coming Sunfeast Open due to her indifferent form that has seen her making early exits in most tournaments this year.

While the focus of the tournament will be Swiss former world number one Martina Hingis, its Croat Karolina Sprem and Estonian Kaia Kanepi are expected to take a leap in the WTA rankings because of their fine form in the recent tournaments and the ongoing US Open.

With another early exit in the US Open, Sania is sure to drop some more points, while Kaia with a third round entry is sure to gain some.

Sania has dropped to 50 in world rankings from mid-thirties due to her indifferent form that saw her making early exit from all major tournaments this year. Her only hope is to do well in Bali Open, which is immediately before this tournament, which could see her maintain her seeding.

Talking to reporters, tournament Director Jaidip Mukherjee said all three wild cards will be given to Indian players. This means Sikha Oberia and Ankita Bhambri as sure shots, while the third spot is up for grabs. One place will go to Abigail Spears of the USA who has been given a special entry as a Feed-Up player.

12 players will vie for the four qualifying spots, to complete the main draw of 32.

Sprem who would be trying hard to overcome the disappointment of losing out in the finals of Sunfeast Open last year. The former World No 17 is back with a vengeance and an eye firmly fixed on the crown.

This year she has already recorded her career-best performance at Roland Garros reaching the third round with an upset win over No 18 seed Likhovtseva before eventually going down fighting to No 11 seed Venus Williams.

For Ukranian Yuliana Fedak, this will be the second visit to India during the year. In February, she played at the Bangalore WTA tournament where she recorded a quarter-final appearance before losing to the eventual winner.

Fedak had partnered with both Sania Mirza and Melinda Czink but won't give space to either in her quest for the maiden WTA title.

Czink is 2005's culprit when she put paid to the hopes of millions of Indians by defeating Sania Mirza in the pre-quarters in a thrilling three-setter (0-6, 6-4, 6-4).

Kaia is showing some fine form and if she can keep it going, she will be quite a handful to handle.

Mr Mukherjea also informed that Canadian Tony Cho will be the WTYA appointed tournament refree that will have two Chair umpires fro outside and also two massage therapists.

The tickets will be priced at Rs 100 and Rs 200 for week days and its double on weekends. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee could be present for the inauguration of the Open.

MAIN DRAW: (direct entry): Martina Hingis, Sani Mirza, Karolina Sprem, Yuliana Fedak, Melinda Czink, Kaia Kanepi, Aravane Rezai, Galina Voskoboeva, Yulia Beygelzimer, Hana Sromova, Anastasia Rodionova, Nicole Pratt, Olga Poutchkova, Tamarine Tanasugarn, Angelique Widjaja, Antonella Serra Zaneti, Sandra Kloesel, Lioudmila Skavronskaia, Tatina Piutchek, Yung-jan Chan, Anda Perianu, Tzipore Obziler, Arantxa Para Santonja, Anne Keothavong.

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