As the $6,250 Masters of the ITF Satellite Tennis Circuit commences this Monday at the GA Ranade Tennis Centre here, the Indian No 3 will have the confidence of two straight title wins, both at Pune, with him. The final stage of the three-leg plus Masters circuit organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association its maiden effort to hold all four stages -- has Srinath perched on top of the list with 43 circuit points.

Another win here, 31 points, and Srinath can expect a boost to his rankings which he hopes will reach the 200-mark one day. The Davis Cupper is now ranked 312. There are some snapping at his heels, with American Tom Chicoine ahead of the pack with 40 circuit points so far. Radim Zitco (34) and Thomas Messmer (36) are close enough for discomfort with Sandeep Kirtane (19) the only other Indian to possess a decent report card.

Thedisappointment has been Syed Fazaluddin, who started the first week seeded No 2 and subsequently lost that following two first round exits. Three Indians -- Vasudeva Reddy, Saurav Panja and Mustafa Ghouse -- qualified for the Masters along with 21 direct entrants who will form the draw of 24.

Main draw
Direct entrants: Tom Chicoine (USA, 500), Radim Zitko (Cze, 464), Thomas Messmer (Ger, 949), Prahlad Srinath (Ind, 312), Per Thornadtsson (Swe, 495), Sandeep Kirtane (Ind, 782), Kunj Majmudar (USA, 1232), Andrei Youzhny (Rus, 1069), Mathais Bergman-Kempe (Swe, 1300), Rohan Bopanna (Ind, 1221), Mlynarik Zbynek (Aut, 768), Manoj Mahadevan (Ind, 1300), Vinod Shridhar (Ind, 693), Akshay Vishal Rao (Ind), Syed Fazaluddin (Ind, 418), Josef Nesticky (Cze), Vijay Kannan (Ind, 826), Balazs Veress (Hun, 848), Van Wyk Coenie (SA), Nitin Kirtane (Ind, 828), Vishal Uppal (Ind).

From play-offs: Mustafa Ghouse (Ind).