MUMBAI, May 16: While Nirupama Vaidyanathan has given women's tennis in India a shot in the arm, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) has chosen the time to serve a double fault, so to say.The Indian Tennis Players Association (ITPA), in its letter to the AITA president RK Khanna, has protested the AITA decision to ``abolish the domestic circuit'' for women tennis players, a move, they say, is against the interests of women's tennis.The tentative schedule released on Monday had four ITF Women's Circuit tournaments without a venue, and National Grass Court (venue again undecided) along with the recently concluded Shivaji Park Hard Court tournament and the Shriram Open in New Delhi.Quite in contrast to the men's circuit which has two Nationals, three Satellites, one Satellite Master, four Future Circuits and two Challengers.Last year, there were 12 domestic tournaments for women - Shriram Open, two Nationals, three in Mumbai, two at Bangalore, one each at Chennai, Gwalior, Jaipur andCalcutta.``What we are asking for is an equal number of domestic tournaments along with the WTA tournaments,'' said Janaki Krishnamoorthy, women's representative of the ITPA.The letter, which is endorsed by 22 of the country's leading women players including Rushmi Chakravarthi, Jahnavi Parekh, Arati Ponappa, Sai Jayalakshmy and Uzma Khan, says the move is against the interests of women's tennis. ``Such a move will practically erode the tennis base in India as there will be no incentive for players to compete professionally,'' the letter says.``The two WTA tournaments held earlier indicate the need for more such tournaments. However, the domestic circuit serves as a base for developing talent. And abolishing the base has created a frustration among players who feel there is no future in women's tennis,'' the letter added.Khanna, who was here to witness the Mumbai Hardcourt final at Shivaji Park, refused to comment on the matter saying that a decision will be taken at the AITA executive committeemeeting to be held here on May 26.The programme released, however, is flexible, he said.Khanna, while bemoaning the lack of funds for women's tournaments, also added that discussions were being held on the $75,000 WTA tournament which will be held in December.He said the AITA had identified six coaching centres in the country - Dhaita (Delhi), Krishnan Academy (Chennai), JP Mishra's (Andhra Pradesh), Bhupathi's (Bangalore), Akhtar Ali's (Calcutta) and Gaurav Natekar's (Mumbai) - and will be helping them with funds to the tune of Rs 70-80 lakh. But contrary to reports, he said, Dhaita was not going to be disbanded but only decentralised.
