Frenchman Antoine Escoffier seeded first at Mandya Open

Antoine Escoffier

Mandya (Karnataka), May 12 (IANS)

Frenchman Antoine Escoffier, ranked 623, has been given the top billing in the Mysore Minerals Mandya Open, a $10,000 ITF Men's Futures tennis tournament commencing here on May 18, while No.683 Ranjeet Virali Murugesan will spearhead the Indian challenge.

In all, 14 players from India have gained direct entry into the main draw, vying for 18 ATP points and $1,440 in prize money.

Apart from Escoffier, the other foreign entries include Jui-Chen Hung (783, Taipei), Shotaro Goto (908, Japan) and Bruce Strachan (1245, Great Britain).

Seeded third behind Escoffier and Murugesan is Davis Cupper Vishnu Vardhan, who partnered Leander Paes in the 2012 London Olympics and ranked 783, it was announced here Tuesday.

On conclusion of the tournament, the players head to Mysuru for another Futures event beginning May 25 at the Infosys campus courts.