Ankita Raina thread

[sameerph]

Ankita is back on ITF tour in France this week.

At W25 (+H) Cherbourg,France (Hard)

[R1] Ankita Raina (IND,273) vs. Manon Leonard (FRA,703)

Leonard was top 50 in juniors couple of years back.

[jayakris]

^^^ Ankita lost, rather unbelievably, 16 36 to the 21-year old... She must be still in some physical trouble after whatever happened at the national games. She got broken in 5 of her first 6 service games and broke Manon once, as she was about to lose 16 16... Did a small fightback for one more break and a hold right at the end, but was really not in the match at all.

[sameerph]

^^^ Ankita lost, rather unbelievably, 16 36 to the 21-year old... She must be still in some physical trouble after whatever happened at the national games.

You were right. Ankita posted this on her insta as she finished doubles runner up at that W25.

Post the national games I was unwell and didn’t expect to make it this far in the tournament since I had a lot of weakness and discomfort. I guess thats where we learn, the experiences from an athletes life.. strength, grit and taking things as they come

She is only playing doubles next week at WTA 125 with same partner.

At WTA 125 Rouen, France (Hard)

[R1] Ankita Raina (IND) / Rosalie Van Der Hock (NED) vs. Estelle Cascino (FRA) / Viktoria Tomova (BUL)

[Dinesh]

^^^ She’s only playing doubles because the cut-off for this WTA125 too high and they only have a 8-player qualifying draw.

After Rouen, she will travel to Australia for a few $60K ITF events.

[jayakris]

Probably a good idea to just play doubles this week and get some rest for physical recuperation.

She is in the entry list for Playford and Sydney in Australia the next two weeks. Much easier list at W60 Playford starting on Oct 24th, where she is among the top 10 or so players. But she is one out from the W60 Sydney list the week after (but she will make it in)

[sameerph]

Ankita had a decent outing in doubles as she won a round and lost a close one in quarter final.

At WTA 125 Rouen, France (Hard)

[R1] Ankita Raina (IND) / Rosalie Van Der Hock (NED) d. Estelle Cascino (FRA) / Viktoria Tomova (BUL) 62 75

[QF] Ankita Raina (IND) / Rosalie Van Der Hock (NED) l. (1) Natela Dzalamidze (GEO) / Kamilla Rakhimova (RUS) 63 36 7-10

Off to Australia next week.

[Dinesh]

Looks like Ankita faced visa issues as well (check my post on Rutuja’s thread), as she no longer appears in the Playford ITF entry list. This is unfortunate for our players (and for their doubles partners, but maybe they both will sign in as alternate now that both Ankita and Rutuja withdrew from the first week). Bummer!

Edit - I don’t see Ankita’s name in the 2nd week entry list either, so it seems she doesn't want to travel to Australia just for one week. But Rutuja is still in the Sydney list, as well as Sahaja (in the Q list).

[sameerph]

That is unfortunate for Ankita in particular as if she had earned a bunch of points here, she would have had a chance of making the cut for AO qualies. And she will be marked as late withdrawal from both week, so won't be able to participate in other tournaments too in next 2 weeks.

So many vissa issues Indian players are facing these days, I do no know why. Except for a couple of wrestler, our entire mens freestyle and womens wrestling team were denied visa for Spain for world under 23 wrestling world championships which is taking place this week.

[Dinesh]

Ankita received a wildcard for the Dubai WTA 1000 qualifying event. But she has a tough match against Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova, who recently entered the top-100 and qualified for main draw at Doha this week defeating 3 top-100 players.

$4,000 and 1 ranking point in offer for QR1. Wonder if she will receive a wildcard for doubles as well. Supposedly, this will be Sania’s farewell tournament.

[sameerph]

Ankita lost a very close one against top 100 Tomova. She was leading 4-1 in the third set only to lose the last 5 games.

At Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, WTA 1000

[Q1] Ankita Raina (IND,246) l. (15) Viktoriya Tomova (BUL,100) 63 16 46

[sameerph]

Ankita is in the entry list of W25 in Jakarata, Indonesia for next 2 weeks. Rutuja is 2 out from main draw and can make the main draw when special exempts clear and Sahaja is 5 out of main draw and should be a high seed in qualies.

We will open a thread if all 3 of them eventually play there.

[jayakris]

Well, Rutuja ended up as the top seed and Sahaja as the 5th seed in the qualies with Q1 byes. Two rounds to go.

[sameerph]

Ankita plays in France this week.

At W40+H Calvi, France (Hard)

[R1] (8) Ankita Raina (IND,224) vs. Naiktha Bains (GBR,338)

Ankita is 2-1 in head to head against Naiktha with Ankita winning the last match in August 2022.

[sameerph]

Ankita and Naiktha are slugging it out currently in Calvi. Ankita was ahead and had set points twice once when Naiktha served at 3-5, 30-40 and than again when she served at 5-4 at ad-in but could not covert those and than Naiktha went on to win the tie break 7-5. It has been long long rallies and 1 hour 22 mins just for 1 set. If Ankita has to win she has to probably play 2 more hours.

[sameerph]

Ankita could not push it to 3 sets.

At W40+H Calvi, France (Hard)

[R1] (8) Ankita Raina (IND,224) l. Naiktha Bains (GBR,338) 67(5) 46

So, 2 first round losses for Ankita in her first 2 weeks on European tour. She is top seed in doubles here with French girl Estelle Castino.