Ankita Raina thread

[jayakris]

At WTA Taipei OEC Open

[QF] (3) Ankita Raina (IND)/ Bibiane Schoofs (NED) l. Ya-Sheun Lee (TPE) / Fang-Hsien Wu (TPE), 63 36 (9-11)

A closs loss. Ankita had a lot of doubles points to defend this week, so she will fall in doubles rankings to around #168.

[sameerph]

Congratulations to Ankita for winning her fifth 25K title last week in Solapur.

These are details of her title run this week.

At $25K ITF Women, Solapur

[R1] (2) Ankita RAINA (IND,188) d. Valeriya STRAKHOVA (UKR,366) 63 60
[R2] (2) Ankita RAINA (IND,188) d. Riya BHATIA (IND,386) 63 64
[QF] (2) Ankita RAINA (IND,188) d. Sandra SAMIR (EGY,368) 16 64 61
[SF] (2) Ankita RAINA (IND,188) d. KATIE BOULTER (GBR,342) 57 62 62
[F] (2) Ankita RAINA (IND,188) d. (5) Nathika BAINS (GBR,249) 63 63

After she won her first title back in 2014, there was a title drought for her in next 3 years but in 2018 and 2019, she has won 2 titles each. So, she is certainly become more consistent at this level now and also slowly making inroads at next level, After being a 225-300 level player for 5-6 years, she has progressed now to being a solid 180-200 level player. Hope next year she moves upto top 150 level.

[PKBasu]

In 2020, Ankita will play in at least one Slam singles main draw, and will partner Sania Mirza in doubles at the Olympics, where they might even get a medal with a bit of luck. Prediction.

[sameerph]

This is an article on Ankita as she starts her with a tournament in Bendigo ( was to be in Canberra earlier).

Ankita Raina gears up for the season in Australia

Good that she is travelling to Australia with her coach and trainer.

This is her first round match-up.

At $25K ITF Women, Bendigo, Australia

[R1] Ankita Raina (IND,180) vs. Martina Di Giuseppe (ITA,201)

[sameerph]

Ankita starts with a convincing win in the new year.

At $25K ITF Women, Bendigo, Australia

[R1] Ankita Raina (IND,180) d. Martina Di Giuseppe (ITA,201) 61 75

Next,

[R2] Ankita Raina (IND,180) vs. (Q) Irina Falconi (USA,443)

29 year old Falconi is a former top 100 player and upset the fifth seed in the first round. So, looks a tougher match for Ankita.

[PKBasu]

Good R1 win for Ankita, over a player who was ranked 149 after making the SF at the WTA Bucharest last July. I believe she is now ranked 196 (not 201).

Today, Ankita has had a tougher match against the former top-100 Ecuadorian-American (career high of 63 in May 2016). Lost the first set 2-6, but has just broken in the 10th game to take the second set 6-4. Onto the final set now! Ankita will be serving first.

[PKBasu]

Irina Falconi beat Urzula Radwanska (POL, 257, CH 29; younger, 29 year old sister of Agnieska) in qualifying here!
Unfortunately Falconi broke Ankita in the first game of the final set. But I have a strong hunch that Ankita will fight back!!

[PKBasu]

Sure enough, Ankita has broken back, and now leads 3-2 (on serve) in the final set.

Update: Ankita is leading 5-4 in the final set, and Falconi will serve to stay in the match. Ankita has put pressure on her opponent's service games but not yet managed to break a second time in this final set.

[PKBasu]

Irina: 0-30, 15-30, 15-40, MATCH!! Ankita through to the QF!

[PKBasu]

[R2] Ankita Raina (IND,180) d. (Q) Irina Falconi (USA,443; career high 63) 26 64 64


Another very impressive win from the India #1 woman. She figured her opponent's game out after one set, and broke her in the 10th game of each of the next two sets! Fabulous.

[suresh]

Way to go Ankita! Most probably, next up will be the third seed Sachia Vickery (USA, 155). She is leading 6-3, 5-4 (on serve) in her match against Jessica Ponchet (FRA, 188).

[PKBasu]

Yes, next up is another tough match against Sachia Vickery, who made R2 in the Australian Open last year and has a career-high ranking of 73. Excellent way to prepare for the AO qualifying rounds next week!

[sameerph]

Ankita is such a fighter. So many matches she has come back from a set down to win matches.

This tournament really deserves much better status than $25K. Ankita with a ranking of 180 is not even seeded here while at a similar level event in Hongkong this week, 8th seed is ranked 311. ITF should do something to increase prize money for these events held in Australia prior to the Australian open. As a results of it's $25K status, Ankita gets only 9 points for 2 very good wins.

[Dinesh]

What a great start to the new year for Ankita. Sachia Vickery is tough but winnable, as Ankita leads their H2H 1-0 with a win over the 5'4" American at the Guangzhou WTA last year.

[Dinesh]

Ankita moves straight to the SF due to a walkover from Sachia. She’ll be up against Patricia Maria Tig (#113), a tough match awaits.