ITF Thailand Championships: Ankita Raina enters semifinal

India's Ankita Raina entered the semifinals of the ITF Thailand Tennis Championships event in Nonthaburi, Thailand after getting the better of Simona Waltert of Switzerland in a tough three-set game, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

The number 1 ranked Indian female player in the singles circuit and third seed in the competition was on fire in the match as she won 99 points in the game, as against her rival who won 94. However, where Raina triumphed was in her superior first-serve percentage of 76. She won 57 service points, with the Swiss player latching on to just 45 service points.

In the game that went on for more than two hours, Raina started off with a bang, collecting the first set before losing her momentum to lose the next 4-6. The tie-breaker, however, saw yet another enticing encounter with the 19-year old Waltert pushing the Indian. However, Raina managed to control her nerves as she recorded a memorable win.

She will now take on Leonie Kung of Switzerland in the semis that will commence from 8.30 am IST tomorrow, February 01, 2020. The Indian is currently ranked 171 in the WTA rankings and should have the upper hand against Kung, who is ranked number 324 in the world.

Also read: I’ve received abusive messages threatening me and my family — Ankita Raina

Raina also had a good outing in her women's doubles clash, where she, along with her partner Bibiane Schoofs got the better of Akgul Amanmuradova and Nicoleta Dascalu in the semifinals of the tournament. The top seeds Raina and her Dutch partner got the better of the Uzbek-Romanian pair, also the fourth seeds, in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. They will now take on the unseeded Mananchaya Sawangkaew and Supapitch Kuearum of Thailand. The local pair had defeated Mirjam Bjorklund and Jodie Anna Burrage in the semifinals 6-4, 6-4.

The finals is slated to be held after Raina's singles clash; at 11.30 am IST.