Soon-Mi Seo doesnt really have any tennis credentials to boast of,but for the last two weeks in New Delhi,the unseeded Korean who doesnt have a ranking on the ITF Womens Circuit charts has been beginning each week of the $10,000 tournament in style. Last week,she came through the qualifying rounds and knocked out second seed Japanese Anastasia Malhotra in the first round,and this week,Sanaa Bhambri became her first victim. Getting a place in the main draw after another successful qualifying campaign,Seo knocked out third seed Sanaa in straight sets at the DLTA Complex on Monday. The first set was stretched to a tie-break,but in the second,the Indian could win just two games as she fell to a 7-6 (2) 6-2 defeat. Wild card entrant Rashmi Teltumbde pulled off a 6-2 6-2 victory over Australian Marisa Gianotti to reach round two in another match on Monday. Another qualifier Soniya Dayal had a bit of trouble in her match against wild card Tanvi Shah,and needed three sets to defeat her compatriot 6-2 4-6 6-4. Rishika Sunkara,who had also been granted a wild card this week,couldnt make use of the opportunity as Treta Bhattacharya beat her 6-2 6-3 in the first round. Second seed Anastasia Malhotra ensured her challenge would last longer than last weeks unceremonious first-round exit she dropped only four games in her match against Australian Renee Binnie in a 6-3 6-1 victory today. Vietnams T Nguyen,seeded fifth,however,didnt go past her opening round adversary Ting Li of China,losing 6-3 6-3.
