JOIN USAnkita Raina leads a strong Indian presence in the $10,000 ITF women’s tournament beginning at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association complex on Monday.
Ankita, the top seed this time, had won her second singles ITF title of the year and third overall earlier this month at the same venue.
The 20-year-old had justified her ranking of top women’s player in the country when she reached the final of the $25,000 tournament in Uzbekistan last month. Though she bowed out in the first round of another $25,000 event in Istanbul last week, she remains the favourite to win the title this week as well.
Delhi girls Rishika Sunkara and Prerna Bhambri are seeded second and third. Though Rishika lost in the singles quarterfinals in the last tournament here, her doubles title win with Hungary’ Naomi Totka would have done a world of good to her confidence. On the other hand, Prerna, who had to concede her pre-quarterfinal match because of a shoulder injury, would be raring to hit the courts to get some matches under her belt.
The 17-year-old Eetee Maheta, who reached her maiden ITF women’s final here, would also be gunning to make her presence felt this week.
Once again, the foreign participation is meager with Chinese Taipei’s Ching-Wen Hsu and Totla the only two overseas players in the singles main draw.
Malaysia’s Theiviya Selvarajoo will be playing the final qualifying round against India’s Sai Samhitha Chamarthi on Monday morning.
India’s Vaniya Dangwal, Arushi Basin, Nishtha Dudeja and Namita were awarded the wildcards for the main draw.