Ankita Raina thread

[Dinesh]

Ankita will face the Swiss youngster Leonie Kung (#158) tomorrow for a place in the main draw.

[jayakris]

That was a terrific upset win for Ankita!

At $235,238 Abierto Zapopan WTA250, Guadalajara, MEX

[Q1] Ankita Raina (IND,168) d. (2) Sara Errani (ITA,106), 26 64 63
so
[Q2] Ankita Raina (IND,168) vs (11) Leonie Kung (SUI,158)

[rajitghosh]

That is a pretty big scalp. Even though Errani may be past her prime such players can pull out great stuff just from memory or experience

[PKBasu]

The Ankita Raina page (when it is elevated to the "Golden Oldies" at some distant time in the future) will have two huge scalps -- the former USO champion (2011) and FO finalist (2010) Samantha Stosur, and now the former FO singles finalist (2012) and USO singles semifinalist (also 2012) Sara Errani. This is a HUGE scalp. Stosur was ranked around 80 when Ankita defeated her, and Errani is ranked 106 -- so both are truly notable victories for Ankita, and ones that are helping to move her ranking and reputation up. Truly marvellous news to wake up to!

[sameerph]

Wow, what a wonderful win by Ankita. I went to sleep when Ankita had lost the first set tamely. So, did not expect much. Great news to wake up to.

Even if we forget her past exploits, Sara Errani also qualified and reached third round of Australian Open recently beating 30th seed Wang and Venus Williams there. So, she is playing top 100 maybe top 50 tennis now. Great scalp that. Hope Ankita qualifies for main draw now.

What a week this is turning out to be for Indian tennis fans. We

[jayakris]

Definitely true, Sameer. Just because Errani is not what she was before, it doesn't mean that she isn't at the top. Her ranking is her ranking and she is playing top-100, if not top-75 tennis. But Ankita is getting close to top-100 tennis too. Definitely top-150 or top-125 tennis. That is what this means.

[Dinesh]

Ankita’s Q2 match has started and unfortunately not going her way. Kung is leading 6-0 1-0 30-0 on Ankita’s service game.

[Dinesh]

Ankita also has a tough draw in doubles - the pair of Ankita/Paula Kania faces Bouchard/Vandeweghe. Bouchard was just in the Lyon WTA event losing the doubles finals, whereas Coco Vandeweghe (career high doubles #14) is making her return to competitive tennis for the first time since last March.

[arjun2761]

Ankita’s Q2 match has started and unfortunately not going her way. Kung is leading 6-0 1-0 30-0 on Ankita’s service game.

Ankita ends up losing 6-0, 6-1.

Surprising result since Ankita had beaten Kung 6-3, 6-1 early last year in a W25 event in Thailand.

[Sanjay]

I just checked, Ankita was down 0-6, 0-5 at one time.

[vparam]

I just checked, Ankita was down 0-6, 0-5 at one time.

That’s a shocking scoreline. She must have been exhausted after yesterday’s win.

[Dinesh]

Ankita has entered the $25K Buenos Aires ITF starting the week of March 22nd. So, it seems like her schedule for the next 4 weeks will look like this -

• 3/15 Monterrey, Mexico WTA 250 (hard) - Doubles MD with Dalila Jakupovic, Singles ALTs

• 3/22 $25K Buenos Aires (clay) - Singles and Doubles MD

• 3/29 $25K Villa Maria (clay) - Singles and Doubles MD

• 4/5 Bogota, Colombia WTA 250 (clay) - TBD

[jayakris]

^^^ Thanks Dinesh, for staying on top of the details!

[Dinesh]

Bogota entry list is out and Ankita indeed entered there. 20 spots out of the main draw list which means she must be in the qualifying entry list. Kamila Rakhimova has also entered the tournament. Would be great to see them playing doubles again.

[Dinesh]

Ankita withdrew from the Buenos Aires tournament and there’s no other she has entered. She’s not in the Miami singles/doubles alternates either. So she might have decided to take a break that week.