New Delhi, July 25:
India will host its first WTA tournament in five years when the city of Mumbai stages a USD 125,000 event in November, giving home players an opportunity to compete with the world’s top-50.
Yet again, it is Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) which has come forward to bring the much- needed tournament to the country.
MSLTA had recently bagged the hosting rights of India’s ATP World Tour event, Chennai Open and it was re-branded as Maharashtra Open, to be held in Pune.
“It’s time that our players such as Ankita Raina, Karman Kaur Thandi, Rutuja Bhosale and others get to play at a better level and try to move up the rankings ladder. For the players’ interest we have brought this event to Mumbai,” MSLTA Secretary General Sunder Iyer said.
The last time India hosted a WTA event — Royal Indian Open — was in 2012 in Pune when current world number five Elina Svitolina had won the singles title by beating veteran Japanese Kimiko Date-Krumm.
There will be four wild cards each on offer in main draw and the Qualifiers of the Mumbai Open. Top players in the country at that time are likely to get those wild card entries. (PTI)
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