Ankita Raina, India’s highest-ranked woman tennis player, suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final round of the Australian Open qualifiers being held in Dubai. She went down to Serbian teenager Olga Danilovic 2-6, 6-3, 1-6 in a topsy-turvy clash on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old started slow but bounced back in the second set and take the momentum in the decider. But Danilovic, ranked 183 in the world now but with a WTA title to her name, blazed through the third set to confirm her ticket for Melbourne.
There is still hope that she can make it to Melbourne as a lucky loser, depending on the rest of the final round matches. the organisers have decided to take players, who lost in the final round to Melbourne for entry in case there are withdrawals.
“They (organisers) are taking me to Melbourne and considering the COVID-19 situation, there could be withdrawals. I am seventh in the queue. I am still hopeful,” she told PTI.
Not being able to win points on her first serve…