Australian Open 2021

[PKBasu]

Yes, Ramkumar should have little trouble with the Taiwanese grinder. Here are the match-ups for Q2:

[Q2] 9-Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND, 128) vs. Constant Lestienne (FRA, 227)
[Q2] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND, 188) vs. Wu Tung-lin (TWN, 247)
[Q2] Ankita Raina (IND, 180) vs Katarina Zavatska (UKR, 103)

Tough match for Ankita against the 20 year old Ukrainian. This is the key one that could enable her to qualify for the main draw.

[Rajiv]

Now that was the same feeling I had when I was at the courts, when Ram play against the Taiwanese at Shenzen in 2019 , but the result was the opposite , so the Taiwanese is no slouch and more over he has taken out the ever dangerous Jay Clarke who is a formidable player, so surely he has in him to put up a fight.
But the Key factor would be Ram's serve, which is now more lethal and consistent than in 2019 , so if he is serving well and can set up the points around his serve ,as he did against the Argentinian in the opening round where he fired over dozen aces,and nicely set up points on the huge serve by moving in and closing it out , than with guarded optimism feel he should do well today

Praj seems to be the favourite to advance to the 3rd round, now that he has shaken off his rustiness & Ankita faces her true test and fingers crossed for a huge upset.

[rajitghosh]

Any news on the doubles? Who all from India are playing? Sania? Leander? Rohan?

[Sin Hombre]

Grinders are very hard for Ram given there is no consistency in his play and grinders do the best against such players.

[prasen9]

Agree with Sin Hombre. Hope he turns up with his A-game and pulls this out.

[sameerph]

Ram & Ankita first on the courts tomorrow, Ram at 6pm Ind time on court #2 & Ankita at 5.30pm Ind time on Court # 5

Rajeev, the timings mentioned on official website are Australian times. Ankita's match is at 11.30 am Indian time, RamK's match at around 1 pm and Prajnesh's match around 5.30/6 pm Indian time.

I think Prajnesh is favorite for his match, RamK's match is 50-50 and Ankita is underdog in her match. So, 2-1 would be good result for us, hope Ankita can somehow pull off a big upset.

[Atithee]

Grinders are very hard for Ram given there is no consistency in his play and grinders do the best against such players.

And he isn’t into second round of qualifying just to fold. There’s a reason he is at the same competition level.

[PKBasu]

Ankita has raced to a 5-1 lead in Q2 against world #103!

[sameerph]

After winning the first set 6-2, Ankita has lost the second set 2-6. Her opponent has come back strongly.

RamK's match has just about started.

[prasen9]

All even steven. 6-2, 2-6. Hope she turns it around. Usually the better player figures it out.

[PKBasu]

[Q2] Ankita Raina (IND, 180) d. 9-Katarina Zavatska (UKR, 103) 62 26 63

Ankita is up 4-1 in the third set now, having broken Zavatska in the fourth game. Opponent to serve now.
Update: Ankita serving for the match at 5-3 now. 30-40, Deuce. Ad-out, Deuce, Ad-out, Deuce. Ad-in (MP), MATCH!!

Ramkumar lost the first set to the Taiwanese grinder.

[PKBasu]

Terrific win for Ankita. She is easily the most admirable Indian tennis player of this generation, who steadily makes progress, working on her weaknesses, incrementally adding to her strengths, playing on with minimal support and gradually advancing up the tennis ladder. I hope and pray she makes it to the main draw -- rather than getting stuck at the next hurdle, the final qualifying round of a Slam. Nobody deserves success more!

[Q3] Ankita Raina (IND, 180) vs. Olga Danilovic (SRB, 183).

Danilovic is a 19-year-old, who won a WTA title in Moscow two years ago -- and made it to the top-100 then. Definitely a tough match: Olga beat the talented American Sachia Vickery 64 61 in Q2 here.

[PKBasu]

Ramkumar struggling against Wu, down 3-6, 1-5.

[Rajiv]

Excellent win by Ankita, and on the cusp of a historic MD. Go Ankita!!
Ram loses in straight sets, always knew it was hard,  as have seen the Taiwanese play, he is in Somdev mould gets back everything what is thrown at him, infact his ranking is deceiving and is playing Top 150 level, and Ram lost to a better player.

[sameerph]

Excellent stuff by Ankita. This was 9th grand slam qualies for Ankita and for the first time she has reached final round of qualies at slams. Can she make it to the main draw of a grand slam for the first time ?

Disappointing loss for RamK. He is just able to make it thru the qualifying rounds of slams after so many attempts.