Meet The Smashing Ankita Raina: Fifth Indian Woman In A Grand Slam Main Draw

Who is Ankita Raina? Get to know the tennis star who recently became the fifth Indian woman to make it to a Grand Slam main draw: On 7 February, Ankita Raina became the fifth Indian woman tennis player in the Open era to procure a place in the main draw of a Grand Slam. Raina has made the cut for the women’s doubles event of the Australian Open.

 The 28-year-old teamed up with Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnecu to earn her entry into the season's first Grand Slam.

Before her, Nirupama Mankad in the year 1971, Nirupama Vaidyanathan in 1998, Indian-American Shikha Uberoi and Sania Mirza in 2004 have competed in the Grand Slam main draws for the country.

Here Are Seven Things To Know About Ankita Raina

1. Ankita Raina was born in Gujarat and completed her studies from Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce in Pune.

2. Ankita Raina's Women's Tennis Association single's ranking is 180th. Her highest career ranking has been 160th. Ankita's current women's doubles ranking is 119.

3. Raina is a right-handed player. With the recent entry into the main draws of the Australian Open, she is now the second Indian after Sania Mirza, to compete in the women’s doubles of a tennis major.

4. Ankita Raina trains at PYC Hindu Gymkhana in Pune where she is coached by Hemant Bendrey.

5. In 2013, she won three singles titles on International Tennis Federation Circuit.

6. In December 2020, Raina won the doubles title at $100 TFK women’s event in Dubai. Read more about it here.

7. She has now become the fifth Indian woman to enter the main draw of the Grand Slam.

Image Credit: NDTV