New Delhi: The last time India had a representation in the main draw of the women’s singles in a Grand Slam was when Sania Mirza played at the 2012 Australian Open. However, a gritty Ankita Raina is all fired up to change this statistics in the French Open qualifiers, beginning Tuesday in Paris.
It all began at the WTA event in Mumbai and a phenomenal Fed Cup, where she remained unbeaten in singles and also beat a top 50 player. The performance brought about a change in perception about her.
Consistent results in the last six months have helped Ankita break into the top 200 WTA rankings for the first time in her career. She is only the fifth player in India’s tennis history achieve the feat.
Ranked 181, Ankita now has a chance to revise history. “I had three days in Pune in which I had to get my UK visa. However, I worked on footwork and sliding which is required on clay courts. Also while I was travelling I was doing strength exercises for the muscles that help to balance while sliding,” Ankita told this agency.
The 25-year-old understands the enormity of the occasion but would like to keep it simple. “I have always had a lot of dreams and goals for my tennis with most of them coming true but I think playing my first Grand Slam will always be special,” asserted Ankita.
“After all these years of patience and hard work, it feels like it’s paying off. But it’s just another week of tournament for me because it’s going to be the same ball, the same tennis court so that’s how I think,” added the feisty player.
Ankita played on clay during her recent stay in China, so adjusting to the surface won’t be much of a problem. And she is not bothered much about her opponents.
“I’ve been competing with top 200 players for a while now. After a certain level, tennis becomes very mental and it’s all about how strong and patient you are. The belief and confidence helps you to pull out those crucial or tight matches,” she said with confidence.
The last six months have all been about believing in myself. It certainly has helped me improve
Ankita Raina
