Australian Open: Ankita Raina became the 5th Indian woman tennis player to feature in Grand Slam main draw

 

 

MELBOURNE:  Popular tennis player Ankita Raina became only the 5th Indian woman tennis player Open era to secure a place in the main draw of a Grand Slam which starts from Monday as she qualified for the women's doubles event of the Australian Open.

 

 

 

After missing out on the women's singles main draw, Ankita Raina still had a chance to qualify as a 'lucky loser' till the completion of the first round, but the 28-year-old realised her long-time dream when she signed up with Romania's Mihaela Buzarnecu and earned a direct entry.

 

 

 

She still had a chance to qualify as a 'lucky loser' after losing out on the women's singles main draw till the end of the first round, but she realized her long-time dream when signed up with Romania's Mihaela Buzarnecu and earned a direct entry.

 

 

 

Ankita Raina is only the second Indian after Sania Mirza, a six-time Grand Slam champion, to compete in the women's doubles of a tennis major.

 

 

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Earlier, Sania Mirza, Nirupama Mankad, Nirupama Vaidyanathan, and Indian-American Shikha Uberoi have competed in the Grand Slam main draws for the country.

 

 

 

After her entry, speaking to media Ankita said that it is Grand Slam’s first main draw, thus single or double she will take it. She further stated that not only her hard work but also the support and blessings of countless people have brought her to there where she is standing today. “I cannot forget that,” she added.

 

 

 

Vishal Uppal, India’s Fed Cup captain said that the feat will give Ankita Raina more belief. He further said, she is a very hard-working, industrious player and has got the opportunity to play with the best.

 

 

India will have 4 Indians competing in the season’s first Grand Slam.