India\u2019s best bet in the event, Ankita Raina on Tuesday took her first step to end her four-year title drought with a clinical 6-2, 6-1 win over compatriot Akanksha Nitture. Joining her in the last 16 was countrymate Zeel Desai, who recovered from an initial hiccup to register a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Vaidhei Chaudhari.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the other two first-round singles matches of the day, seventh-seed Jacqueline Cabaj Awad of Sweden brushed aside the challenge of wildcard entrant Kashish Bhatia 6-1, 6-0 while third-seeded Justina Mikulskyte of Lithuania overcame a set deficit to overpower Daria Kudashova, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, three other Indians - Anjali Rathi, Vaishnavi Adkar and Madhurima Sawant -- entered the main draw after winning their respective final-round qualifying matches. India\u2019s strength thus swelled to 12 in the main draw.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ankita who last won a title in 2020 at the Jodhpur W25 was in fine form from the word go with a good mix of serve and a strong forehand, reached to a 3-0 lead with a break in the second game. Another break in the eighth game handed her the first set.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The second set too followed a similar trail with Ankita adopting an even more aggressive approach. With two breaks in the 2nd and 4th game, Ankita galloped to a 4-0 lead before clinching the set and the match 6-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, Zeel, who began by breaking her opponent\u2019s serve in the very first game, held her serve to go 2-0 up. However, India No.2 Vaidehi not only levelled but went ahead 3-2 with a break in the fourth game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, Zeel clinched the first set 6-3, winning four games in a row. Zeel although lost her serve in the first game of the second set, she didn\u2019t give a semblance of a chance to her opponent as she won six games on a trot to secure a place in the last 16.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Results:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Singles (Round of 32) (Indians unless stated): Zeel Desai bt Vaidehi Chaudhari 6-3, 6-1; 2-Ankita Raina bt Akanksha Dileep Nitture 6-2, 6-1; 7-Jacqueline Cabaj Awad (SWE) bt WC-Kashish Bhatia 6-1, 6-0; 3-Justina Mikulskyte (LTU) bt Daria Kudashova 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Final Qualifying round: 16-Anjali Rathi bt 6-Sowjanya Bavisetti 4-6, 6-3, 11-9; 2-Ikumi Yamazaki (JPN) bt 11-Yashaswini Panwar 6-3, 6-2; 4-Vaishnavi Adkar bt 9-Saumya Vig 6-0, 2-6, 10-7; 5-Ekaterina Kazionova bt Shria Atturu (USA) 6-1, 6-0; 7-Rinon Okuwaki (JPN) Vs. 10-Kundali Majgaine 6-3, 6-7 (3), 10-3; 8-Madhurima Sawant bt 15-Snehal Mane 7-6 (1), 6-4; 3-Michika Ozeki (JPN) bt Sonal Patil 6-3, 6-4; 12- Abhilasha Bista (NEP) bt Siri Patil 6-4, 6-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Doubles (Round of 16): Akiko Omae (JPN)\/Ikumi Yamazaki (JPN) bt Vaishnavi Adkar\/Humera Baharmus 6-4, 6-0; Ekaterina Kazionova\/Yasmine Mansouri (FRA) bt WC-Sowjanya Bavisetti\/Diva Bhatia 6-2, 6-2; 3-Anastasia Gasanova\/Ekaterina Yashina bt Ayumi Koshiishi (JPN)\/Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) 6-3, 6-3; 4-Yeonwoo Ku (KOR)\/Diana Marcinkevica (LAT) bt Sharmada Balu\/Ranah Akua Stoiber (GBR) 7-5, 7-6 (4).<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/itf-womens-open-ankita-raina-zeel-desai-make-winning-start-in-gurugram.jpg", "alt_img": "ITF Women\u2019s Open: Ankita Raina, Zeel Desai make winning start in Gurugram", "alt_title": "ITF Women\u2019s Open: Ankita Raina, Zeel Desai make winning start in Gurugram", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "ITF Women\u2019s Open: Ankita Raina, Zeel Desai Make Winning Start In Gurugram On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "ITF Women\u2019s Open: Ankita Raina, Zeel Desai Make Winning Start In Gurugram, Open Gurugram W35: Top Indian women's singles players Ankita Raina and Zeel Desai made a winning start in the main.", "seo_keywords": "Ankita Raina, Zeel Desai, ITF Women, Open Gurugram W35, The Tennis Project, Top Indian, Open Gurugram, Akanksha Nitture, Vaidhei Chaudhari, Jacqueline Cabaj Awad, Kashish Bhatia, Justina Mikulskyte, Daria Kudashova, Anjali Rathi, Vaishnavi Adkar", "tag": "", "tagging": "Ankita Raina, Zeel Desai, ITF Women, Open Gurugram W35, The Tennis Project, Top Indian, Open Gurugram, Akanksha Nitture, Vaidhei Chaudhari, Jacqueline Cabaj Awad, Kashish Bhatia, Justina Mikulskyte, Daria Kudashova, Anjali Rathi, Vaishnavi Adkar", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "itf-womens-open-ankita-raina-zeel-desai-make-winning-start-in-gurugram", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "897", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2024-02-27 18:58:03", "updated": "2024-02-27 18:58:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Ankita Raina, Zeel Desai, ITF Women, Open Gurugram W35, The Tennis Project, Top Indian, Open Gurugram, Akanksha Nitture, Vaidhei Chaudhari, Jacqueline Cabaj Awad, Kashish Bhatia, Justina Mikulskyte, Daria Kudashova, Anjali Rathi, Vaishnavi Adkar", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-02-27 18:58:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "tennis", "cnmid": "872104", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/itf-womens-open-ankita-raina-zeel-desai-make-winning-start-in-gurugram-13587" }