$25K ITF Women Circuit, Japan,March-April 2018 (Ankita,Karman)

[kishash]

Congrats Ankita on a gutsy performance. When she was down 4-5 in the final set I thought she is going to lose but her tenacity helped her

[ornatebrute]

Ankita at her fighting best, as ever. Next match should be a comparatively easier one

[kishash]

Next she meets Muramatsu Chihiro ranked 390 a 19 year old. Hope it turns out easy for Ankita

[sameerph]

Yes, Ankita improved her own service game performance in second and third set. In first set she was 0-4 in her service game but improved to 3 out of 5 in second set and 4 out of 6 in third set.

[R1] Ankita Raina (IND,212) d. (7) Fangzhou Liu (CHN,176) 16 64 75

She is next up against the Japanese qualifier who beat Karman in final qualifying round.

[R2] Ankita Raina (IND,212) vs. (Q) Chihiro Muramatsu (JPN,390)

[suresh]

How I wish Ankita and Karman played doubles together. Karman has a lot to learn from Ankita. Karman and her partner Alina Silich have won the first set of doubles 7-5. Second set has just begun. Ankita's singles match took 2h 35m. I don't know if she will have anything in her tank for the doubles that she plays later.

[jayakris]

Ankita!

[fabshab]

Is she still excluded from TOP scheme ......if yes then what a shame !!!!!!

[meyyis]

I don't know if she will have anything in her tank for the doubles that she plays later.

Ankita and her partner had enough firepower to take out the top seeds in their doubles first round match.

At $25K ITF Women's Tournament 2018, Kashiwa, Japan

[R1] Ankita Raina (IND)/ Chin-Wei Chan (TPE) d. (1) Ksenia Lykina (RUS)/ Junri Namigata (JPN) : 4-6, 7-5, 10-5
[R1] Alina Silich (RUS)/ Karman Kaur Thandi (IND) d. Haruna Arakawa (JPN)/ Ayano Shimizu (JPN) : 7-5, 3-6, 10-4

Next

[QF] Ankita Raina (IND)/ Chin-Wei Chan (TPE) vs. Erina Hayashi (JPN) / Momoko Kobori (JPN)
[QF] Alina Silich (RUS)/ Karman Kaur Thandi (IND) vs. Kyoka Okamura (JPN) / Ayaka Okuno (JPN)

[suresh]

Is she still excluded from TOP scheme ......if yes then what a shame !!!!!!

Somdev's logic is that she is not good enough to play the grand slams. Now that is his assessment and one has to respect that to some extent. She has also been criticised in this forum for stagnating at the challenger level. That is validated by her year ends rankings in the last several years where she has been just under 300. What ever be the reason, clearly her game has picked up a notch after that slight (real or perceived is for posterity to judge) and she has entered the top 200 and will be playing qualifiers in grand slam events. I would love it if Ankita qualifies into a GS or two this year.

[bujilover]

What a great start to the week for Ankita. Muramatsu (once ranked 26 in the juniors) albeit being ranked lower in Pro circuit is not an easy opponent. She played very well against KKT.

These points will strengthen Ankita’s chances of entering FO and Wimbledon (as well). :goodluck:

[PKBasu]

What an absolutely glorious day for Ankita Raina. First she comes back from the brink of defeat at 1-6, 1-4 against the world #176, and goes onto win a pulsating thriller in singles -- causing a big upset in R1.
Then she goes and takes out the top seeds in the doubles as well. Ankita Raina, India #1

[jaydeep]

She has spent almost 5 hours on the court and tomorrow, once again she is having her singles and doubles matches ... Hopefully, she recovers for her singles match.

[Saniapower]

50000 should be taken away from Karman & Prarthana and 100000 should be given to Ankita. Ankita needs a good coach. Prarthana is the creation of Sania's ego. She will not play Doubles with Ankita after Ankita overtook her as country's no 1 singles palyer but Ankita is 10X better than Prarthana in doubles.

[sameerph]

Ankita is leading 4-1 in the first set against Muramatsu . The match is on ITF livestream.

Ankita wins the first set 6-2.

[kishash]

Ankita leads 2-0 in the second set with her service to follow. What was surprising to me was that there were no ballboys or ballgirls!!.