Indian sports wrap, January 18: Ankita-Naiktha beats Jessie-Jessica to win ITF W50 women’s doubles

Indian sports wrap, January 18: Ankita-Naiktha beats Jessie-Jessica to win ITF W50 women’s doubles

Ankita Raina and Naiktha Bains combined strongly, especially in a gripping climax, to beat Jessie Aney and Jessica Failla of USA 6-4, 3-6, (10-8) in the doubles final of the $40,000 ITF Women’s Tennis Tournament at the DLTA Complex on Saturday.

In an entertaining match in which the Indo-British pair stepped up the game at crucial stages, the Americans won everyone’s heart for the way they fought right till the end, with their athletic and energetic efforts.

Ankita and Naiktha led 7-5 in the super tie-break before Jessie and Jessica levelled the scores. By now Ankita was intensity personified and came up with the right shots to make the breakthrough to the winner’s trophy.

Naiktha was quite courageous right through the match and played her attacking all-court game with a touch of assurance despite the odd errors.

It was the first title together as a pair for Ankita and Naiktha. The 32-year-old Ankita has 30 doubles titles in the professional circuit. It was the 25th doubles title for Naiktha, and first with an Indian partner.

In the singles semifinals, Tatiana Prozorova was spectacular in taming the top seed Darja Semenistaja of Latvia 7-5, 6-2. Darja did fight hard to bounce back from being 1-4 down in the first set, but Prozorova stroked with punch and precision to race ahead.

In the final, Prozorova will play second seed Panna Udvardy who unleashed a solid game in getting past Yuriko Miyazaki for the loss of five games.

-Kamesh Srinivasan

Donghyun Hwang of Korea outplayed Ruslan Kastsiukevich 6-3, 6-0 in the final of the ITF junior tennis tournament at the CLTA Complex on Saturday.

It was the second title in a row for Donghyun who had won the title last week in Delhi, beating the top seed Rethin Pranav along the way.

The girls title was bagged by Polina Kuharenko as she beat Daria Koreshkova for the loss of six games.

-Kamesh Srinivasan