Ankita Raina thread

[Dinesh]

Noel just beat former WTA #35 Polona Hercog in 2 tiebreaker sets. This must be a breakthrough event for her. I watched her match against Ankita and her serves were big and tricky.

Ankita is now one spot away for a main draw entry into the WTA125 Limoges event, next week. With 2 Top-50 wildcards to give (and almost none to take - my guess it being the year ending), I’m hopeful she will get in. And if she does, this will be her last tournament of the year since she has decided to skip the two $25K ITFs in India. Let’s hope she gets some good wins to end the year on a high note.

[Dinesh]

Ankita and her Polish partner just lost in the opening round of doubles against the top seeds in MTB. A great fight from them against the veterans Niculescu, Zvonareva.

Off to Limoges for now, for Ankita. Good luck!

[PKBasu]

Ankita and her similarly-ranked partner Katarzyna Piter put up a good fight before losing to the top seeds, Zvonareva/Niculescu 46 63 4-10 in the first round (which was also the QF).

[Dinesh]

Ankita goes down fighting to 3rd seed WR #74 Caro Garcia 6-7 6-4 4-6. One of the best matches of her year. Plays her doubles first round again (partnering Kimberly Zimmerman) against Niculescu/Zvonareva who are the top seeds at this week’s tournament as well.

[PKBasu]

Ankita had a few set points in the first set, but eventually lost the tiebreaker 7-9. Had she converted a set point, it might have been a big scalp -- Caroline Garcia (now ranked 74) was ranked as high as #4 in the world a few years ago, and is still only 28 (the same age as Ankita). But close losses are still losses. This round of tournaments has been a big disappointment for Ankita. If I were her, I'd play the two W25s in India over the next 2 weeks to gain some points and confidence.

Today she lost the doubles to the top seeds very tamely -- 06 46.

[Dinesh]

Ankita was previously entered in the Melbourne 250 event a week before the AO qualies but seemed to have withdrawn today. I wonder if this means she is going directly to play at the qualifying event (and hope to grab a doubles MD spot being the #7th alt with Lauren Davis) or not going to Australia at all (only vaccinated players can participate at the AO slam).

[suresh]

From Sportstar: Ankita discusses her testing positive with Covid etc.

Ankita Raina gears up for Australian Open

[sameerph]

Ankita has now fallen to 289 in the WTA singles rankings. Outside grand slam qualies range. Will need some deep runs to make it to grand slam qualies now.

She is starting her 2022 season ( except AO qualies where she got knocked out in Q1 tamely) with W60 in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan next week. Rutuja will be playing qualies and both of them will also play doubles together. After that both of them will travel together to Australia where it seems they will play at least for couple of weeks of 25K's.

[sameerph]

In Nur-Sultan, Ankita lost in first round 46 06 against current French open junior champion Linda Noskova from Czech Republic. She and Rutuja also in first round of doubles. In qualifying Rutuja won first qualifying round against higher ranked player but lost in second qualifying round. So, bad trip for the duo to Kazakhstan. They has posted photos on their insta pages of temperature outside being -10 and all. Of course, Tennis was played indoors but I guess the weather outside may have some impact.

Hope they have better results in Australia in next 2 weeks.

[sameerph]

Ankita had a pretty decent stint of 4 weeks in Australia. In singles, 1 SF at 25K level, 1 WF at 60K level- better than she has done in recent past. In doubles, 2 titles and 1 SF. So, she will move up from 341 to around 305 in singles rankings over this month in singles ranking and from 153 to 133 in doubles rankings.

She is still far from grand slam qualies stage in singles and loses 24 points in 2 weeks time which she will not be able to defend as she will be engaged in Fed cup. So, will again fall to around 325. Will need another couple of deep runs in next couple of months to get into Wimbledon qualies. French open qualies looks difficult now.

[sameerph]

Ankita was playing in W25 in Nottingham along with Rutuja. But, looks like some injury has hit her as she withdrew after being 1-5 down in her singles match and today in doubles along with Rutuja they won the first set 76(5) but retired after being 1-4 down in second set. Unfortunate since I thought this was big chance for Ankita to earn back some points in a relatively weaker field. Hope the injury is not serious.

[sameerph]

This week too Ankita lost in first round of singles against 581st ranked Freya Christie 0-6, 2-6. Bad loss against lowly ranked player in W25 in Nottingham.

Ankita and Rutuja lost in doubles QF. Rutuja lost in singles first round against third seed.

[sameerph]

Another forgettable week for Ankita. She played in W60 in Italy on clay, lost in first round of singles against local wild card ranked 570, 67(5) 26 and lost in doubles first round too.

[Omkara]

With Kamran injured and Rutuja not showing any glimpse of her potential she showed in 2013.... Tough days ahead

[sameerph]

Yes, Pranjala also injured it seems. Mahak Jain went to US college and not winning much, everyone who looked promising in last few years is either struggling with injury or gone away. Dismal times ahead at least on womens side.