United States-born Sunitha Rao has been given the third and last wild card into the main draw of the WTA Sunfeast Open tennis tournament that begins in Kolkata on September 18.
The 21-year-old Sunitha, who resides at Florida [Images], was selected by the organisers on the basis of her written request to the All India Tennis Association that she be allowed to play for India in the Federation Cup.
"She has applied to play for India, and on that basis we have given her the wild card," an official of organizers, Globosport, said.
Sunitha came close to playing for India two years ago but negotiations failed when her father reportedly demanded Rs 50 million from the AITA.
Two Indians Shikha Uberoi and Ankita Bhambri were given the first two wild cards in the US $175,000 Tier III tournament.
Sunitha, who presently has a WTA single rank of 221, turned pro in 2004.
The 5'7'' player won an ITF doubles title - the second in her career - in May, when she claimed honours at Charlottesville. She is ranked 155 in the WTA doubles list.
She has an overall win-loss record of 136-124 in singles and 53-58 in doubles.
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