ITF W25 Jakarta, Indonesia, 20 March- 2 April, 2023

[jayakris]

30 more big points. I think she will be closer to #215 again by Apr 10.

[sameerph]

30 more big points. I think she will be closer to #215 again by Apr 10.

20 points gone out this week and 30 get added. So, +10 points net by April 10 which means 303 points. Should be around #220 I think.

[jayakris]

Sounds good. I thought it would be around 305 points. Next two grand slam qualifying entries assured. Probably in good shape for USOpen also. That is a some good money that she can use too. Let us get 20 more with a title tomorrow. Last year at this time we thought she might be winding her career down. Not Ankita. She is a warrior that keeps on going at it!

It is great to see a lone Indian standing up against the Chinese armada that showed up at this event.

[sameerph]

Yes, yet another Chinese coming up in the final.

[F] (4) Ankita Raina (IND,226) vs. Zhuoxuan Bai (CHN,301)

20 year old Zhouxuan appears to be a tougher Chinese opponent than the 2 Chinese whom Ankita has beaten in last 2 days. She reached the final last week before losing in close 3 sets. Also reached another W25 final in Feb and won couple of W25 titles last year too. She was junior top 10 player too and reached Australian open juniors in 2020.

[Omkara]

[SF] (4) Ankita Raina (IND,226) l. (Q) Hanyu Gao (CHN,915), 76(3) 64

I think this should be a d and not l.

Yes, Ankita is playing smart tennis. With Karman in a prolonged injury break, she is now our only singles story worth following. The men are more focused on doubles.

[Corrected above. Thanks! Mod, Jay]

[sameerph]

Ankita wins the first set 6-3 in the final. Went up 5-1 but got broken back once but held next time to take the set.

The Chinese is playing well though, making some errors every now and then which is helping Ankita. Ankita playing steady consistent tennis. Hope she keeps up her level.

[jayakris]

Bai is a bit of a ball-whacker, so Ankita needs to play intelligent tennis, which she has been doing. Vary the pace and bounce in the rallies and make Bai commit mistakes. Serve to the right spots too (as Bai is strong in return-whacking too)

[sameerph]

Ankita down 0-4 in second set.

[sameerph]

Lost the second set 0-6.

[jayakris]

I stepped out for a few minutes and the second set is over? Yikes. Ankita needs to regroup. I guess she didn't lose much energy in that second set. If not feeling any injury, she can regroup and go for it in the third. Come on, Ankita!

[sameerph]

Phew, finally Ankita win a game after losing 8 straight games.

1-2 in final set.

[sameerph]

All over.

[F] (4) Ankita Raina (IND,226) l. Zhuoxuan Bai (CHN,301) 63 06 26

Bai just did not miss anything in the second and third sets like she was doing in first set.