Ankita first Indian to make last 16

Ankita first Indian to make last 16

MUMBAI: Playing with plenty of exuberance and loads of confidence India’s Ankita Raina, a wild card entrant, produced an outstanding performance to sideline unseeded Russian Veronika Kudermetov recording a straight sets victory in a first round match of the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series, played at the CCI Tennis Courts, here on Wednesday.

The talented 24-year-old Indian, ranked 293, with her fine all-round play, started positively and in an aggressive manner to force the higher 233 ranked 20-year-old Russian rival, in to making too many unforced errors before coasting to 7-6(2), 6-3 in an hour and 35 minutes, to bring cheer to her supporters, who had turned up in fairly large numbers to watch the action on centre court.

Ankita is the first Indian to progress to the pre-quarter-finals after the other three Indians players Karman Kaur Thandi, Rutuja Bhosale and Zeel Desai, who were also awarded wild cards, lost to superior opponent in the first round.

Oozing with confidence, Ankita with two early breaks raced to a 4-0 lead before Veronika finally got on the scoreboard by breaking the Indian in the fifth game. Later, Ankita played some amazing shots in the next game to hold three break points, but the Russian managed to save two before sending a return long which saw the India consolidate the lead to 5-1. But Ankita was unable to go for the kill as she dropped serve in the seventh game and in the ninth game she failed to convert a set point before dropping her serve for the second time as the Russian closed the gap to 5-4. Veronika went on the win the 10th to level scores and then both players held their serves as the match went to the tie-breaker. Ankita was all fired up in the tie-breaker and pulled through at 7-2 to pocket the opening set.

In the second set, Ankita broke the Russian girl in the third game and again in the fifth to stay in front at 4-1. The Indian girl broke for the third time in the ninth when the Russian after saving a couple of match points made another unforced error hitting a return long and Ankita celebrated her triumph with clenched fists and a loud scream.

There was more cheer for Indians as Karman Kaur Thandi and Pranjala Yadlapalli finally brought home a victory in the doubles event. They defeated the pair of Naiktha Bains from Australia, and Fanny Stollar from Hungary in straight sets on centre court. They won the match 6-3, 7-5.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, ranked 78 in the world, from Belarus cruised past Priscilla Hon in straight sets to reach the round of 16. She won the first set 7-5 and followed it up by losing just one game in the second, winning it 6-1.

RESULTS: Round 1: Peangtarn Plipuech (Tha) bt 6-Lizette Cabrera (Aus) 7-6, 6-2; Junri Namigata (Jpn) bt Olga Ianchuk (Ukr) 6-1, 5-4 Retd.; WC-Ankita Raina (Ind) bt Veronika Kudermetova (Rus) 7-6, 6-3; 1-Aryna Sabalenka (Blr) bt Priscilla Hon (Aus) 7-5, 6-1.

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
The Bridge Chronicle
www.thebridgechronicle.com