Ankita Raina wins the ITF W50 Doubles title with Naikhta Prozorova, setting her sights on the singles final against Miyazaki after a thrilling victory at the DLTA Complex.
New Delhi: India’s top tennis player, Ankita Raina, won her first doubles title in nine months by triumphing in the final of the ITF W50 event. Partnering with British player Naikhta Bains, the duo edged past the American fourth seeds Jessie Aney and Jessica Failla in a thrilling summit clash on Saturday.
A Comeback After Singles Disappointment
Although Ankita was eliminated in the first round of the singles event, she made a strong comeback by securing the doubles title with Naikhta. The pair won 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 in one hour and 42 minutes at the DLTA Complex.
Before this victory, Ankita’s last doubles title came in April 2024 at the Kashiwa event in Japan, where she had partnered with Taipei’s Chia Yi Tsao. Earlier in the day, the singles final was set as seventh seed Tatiana Prozorova and second seed Panna Udvardy emerged victorious in their respective semifinals. Tatiana knocked out Latvian top seed Darja Semenistaja 7-5, 6-2, while Panna Udvardy comfortably beat British fourth seed Yuriko Lilly Miyazaki 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles Final: A Thrilling Battle
In the doubles final, the unseeded Indo-British pair of Ankita and Naikhta made an impressive start by breaking their rivals at love in the very first game, with Naikhta finishing the game with a forehand winner.
The pair dominated the early stages of the match, winning nine consecutive points as their American opponents struggled with unforced errors. A half-volley error and a fierce service return winner from Naikhta put them in control with a 3-0 lead.
Despite the strong start, Ankita and Naikhta faced challenges in holding their serve. A series of errors allowed the Americans to break back and reduce the gap to 4-5. Ankita then held her nerve, serving out the opening set to take the lead.
Second Set and Super Tie-Break Drama
In the second set, Ankita and Naikhta faced breakpoints, and the Americans gained an early advantage. Ankita’s serve was broken again at 2-2, and the Americans quickly surged ahead to a 4-2 lead. Although the Americans comfortably took the second set, Ankita and Naikhta fought back in the 10-point Super Tie-Break, eventually emerging victorious.
