By IANS
Bangalore : The Karnataka state tennis organisation Tuesday said it had no plans to persuade Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza to reconsider her decision not to play in the next month’s Bangalore Open, but hoped that her managers will give her the right advice.
Sania, who recently became Asia’s No 1 player, announced Monday in Hyderabad that she has been advised by her managers not to play in the Bangalore Open on the ground that whenever she plays in India she lands into controversy.
Sania’s tennis, sponsorship and advertisement affairs are managed by Globosport owned by Mahesh Bhupathi, who also runs a tennis academy in Bangalore along with his father C.K. Bhupathi, former tennis player.
“She has not called us,” Sunil Yajaman, Bangalore Open tournament director, told IANS when asked whether Sania had formally informed Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Associaiton (KSLTA) of her decision.
“In all fairness, we could have been informed about the decision which we learnt through media,” he added.
“I do not see much chance of that,” Yajaman said, on whether KSLTA would try to persuade Sania to reconsider her decision.
Mahesh too had not spoken to KSLTA on Sania’s decision even though he and the Association enjoy cordial relations, Yajaman said.
“Mahesh had a word with us sometime back but there was no indication of such a decision (from Sania),” he said.
“Injury is not the reason for Sania’s decision as she has been playing well. It could be the controversies she talked about yesterday.
“We expect the management group to be giving her proper advice,” Yajaman said when asked whether KSLTA will talk to Mahesh on Sania’s decision.
He said Sania has time till a week before the tournament begins on March 3 to reconsider. “We will not be announcing wild card entries any time now. It will be done a week ahead of the tournament. So there is time,” Yajaman said.
Mahesh was not available for comments. The Globosport office here said he was away in Delhi and in the midst of preparation for the Davis Cup matches.
The Bangalore Open has been recently upgraded to Tier II level with a total prize money of $ 600,000 with the winner getting $ 95,000 as prize money and 300 WTA points.
As of now the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, are the two most prominent players who have confirmed their participation in the Bangalore Open.