New Delhi: Ankita Raina is thrilled to be back at the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125 Series, taking place at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai. The former India number one showcased her skill with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory over fellow Indian Vaishnavi Adkar, securing her spot in the Round of 16. Raina will now face second seed, Rebecca Marino of Canada, in the upcoming round.
The 32-year-old, with years of experience on the international circuit, shared her thoughts on returning to the prestigious tournament. “I’m really happy to be back in Mumbai for the Mumbai Open. I think this is my fourth or fifth year playing here. I would like to thank the MSLTA team and the tournament directors, Mr. Sunder Iyer and Mr. Prashant Sutar, for granting me the wildcard. This event is an excellent platform for Indian players to compete against some of the world’s best.”
Reflecting on her performance against Vaishnavi, Raina added, “I haven’t faced her before, but we’ve practiced together recently. I started strong and knew she was an aggressive player, so I had a good idea of what to expect. I’m happy with my performance.”
Raina, who is currently working with former ATP player Harsh Mankad, spoke about their partnership. “He’s been helping me out, providing his insights, especially given his experience at this level. We’re trying out some new strategies together. Harsh is based in the United States, but it’s been great to have his support.”
On her professional journey, Raina reflected, “I’ve been in this position for over 10 years now, and even after all this time, I feel the same way I did when I first started. I see myself as my own competition, and I’d say that to all the upcoming players—keep striving to be better than yesterday. Ultimately, we all aim for the Grand Slams, and that’s where you want to be.”
The L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125 Series is being live-streamed on the MSLTA, Prasar Bharati Sports, the MSLTA website, and Sportzworkz’s YouTube channels.
About the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125 Series: The L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125 Series enters its fourth year, returning to Mumbai after a six-year gap. The 2024 edition was won by Latvia’s Darja Semeņistaja, while previous champions include 2024 Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka (2017) and Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum (2018).
About The Author
