PUNE, Oct 18: Though the organisers of the BPL-sponsored second leg ITF women's tennis tournament might have felt let down with the response, or rather lack of it, of foreign entries, it has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for many an Indian player.With fewer entries, the Deccan Gymkhana organising committee, along with ITF observer Dhushan Deo, today had to scrap the qualifying rounds, thus giving a golden chance to the nine players, who had signed in for the qualifiers, to earn a place in Masters.The main draw, commencing from tomorrow, is now left with 29 Indian and three foreign girls. Patty Murren of USA, who was supposed to be the top seed in the first two legs of the tourney with a 651 ranking in the WTA list, and was expected to join the tourney from the second leg, has officially confirmed her inability to play. Janhavi Parekh, after missing the first leg at Ahmedabad, but confirming her entry for the second round, has also pulled out from the Pune leg for unknown reasons.In the wakeof this, India's Archana Venkatraman is the highest ranked (660) player left in the tourney and is therefore top seeded. There is no change in the seeding list to that of the Ahmedabad event.The only addition among the heavyweights is that of Janki Krishnamoorthi. ``I had to pull out of the first leg due to ill health, after the Delhi nationals. But now I am feeling better and look forward to play here,'' said Janki.As per the main draw, the first-leg winner and fifth seeded Rushmi Chakravarthi might face an uphill task in the quarter-finals where she is expected to meet top seed Archana Venkatraman. Rushmi is lined up against local girl Jutika Chokshi in the first round and is expected have a smooth journey till the quarters. On the other hand, Archana starts her campaign against Varsha Reddy.Seeded eighth here, promising Shruti Dhawan faces the challenge of the first leg runners-up Sai Jayalakshmi for the possible quarters. Third seeded Sai, more than any other player, is lucky in getting an easyroute upto the quarters.She plays Sona Marker in her opening encounter and will see the winner of the Deepa Engade-Vibita Dixit in the second round. The bottom part of draw will see the second seed Anna Nefedova of Russia, sixth seed Aarti Venkataraman and the two Thailand girl Orawan Wongkamalasai and Montika Anuchan, facing tough challenge from their Indian opponents.Aarti, though, is expected to move ahead into the second round against Tara Kanbargimath, but will have Janaki Krishnamoorthy in her way to the last eight. Meanwhile, the Russian No 2 Anna will have either G Sheetal or local lass Stutti Smit to play against in the pre-quarters.However, the Thai duo nurse some disappointment. Reason: ``For the second time, we have been pitted against each other for the possible quarters.''SEEDINGS: Archana Venkatraman (India); Anna Nefedova (Russia), Sai Jayalakhmi (India), Orawan Wongkamalasai (Thailand), Rushmi Chakravarthi (India), Arthi Venkatraman (India), Montika Anuchan (Thailand) andShruti Dhawan (India).
