In absence of experienced Sania, India’s top-ranked women’s singles tennis player will have to step up and lead charge for medal, a pressure the youngster terms as privilege
For the last four consecutive Asian Games, the Indian women's tennis contingent has always had the name 'Sania Mirza' written in it.
But, not this time.
Her career on hold as she gears up to welcome the newest member in her family, the mom-to-be Sania won't be present in Indonesia to lead the Indian women's medal charge in tennis in these Asian Games.
The mantle of doing that, thus, falls on the shoulders of young Ankita Raina, the 25-year-old who grew up idolising Sania.
India's highest-ranked women's singles player has made rapid strides in her career this year, breaking into the top-200 of the WTA rankings in April and rising to a career-high spot of 181 the following month.
Currently ranked 193rd, Ankita has tasted a couple of title victories in 2018 — ITF $25,000 tournaments in Thailand last month and Gwalior in March — and has broken the door to enter the big beautiful world of Grand Slams for the first time in her career this year.
She lost in the first round of qualifying at the French Open but took a step further at the Wimbledon, winning her opening encounter before succumbing in the second round of qualifiers.
In her most recent tournament, Ankita entered the quarterfinals of the $60,000 ITF event in China, before going down with a fight to 93rd-ranked Yafan Wang of China on Friday.
No Indian woman player other than Sania (silver in 2006 and bronze in 2010) has won a singles medal in tennis at the Asian Games, and Ankita is keen to make an addition to that tiny list.
And, the Ahmedabad-born girl couldn't have entered her second Asian Games in a better frame of mind for that.
"I've had good performances from November last year, and that has helped take my belief and confidence to a different level. Also this year, I had my debut at the Slams and had decent performances on the circuit, so I just want to keep working at it," Ankita told DNA.
The Pune-based Ankita realises that in the absence of her idol Sania, she will have to step up as the country's top-ranked women's singles player.
And yet, she is unfazed by that added burden.
"We will definitely miss Sania," Ankita said.
"As a kid, I always dreamt of representing the country and inspiring young girls. This is my chance. There's definitely pressure when you are playing for the country, but it's good to have some pressure because it always helps to do better and get better. I believe that pressure is a privilege," she said.
Lone ranger
What's also a privilege for her is being in a team environment in an event like the Asian Games, something professional tennis players are deprived of while playing on the Tour. More so for Ankita, who has travelled, competed and steadily climbed the ladder on the international tennis circuit all alone since she turned pro in 2009.
"Most Indian players either have someone from their family or their coach, trainer or physio traveling with them in a lot of the tournaments around the year.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's still a luxury. I've traveled alone at the circuit since I was 14. I've been grinding it out all by myself, both in the junior and the pro circuit. Wins or losses, I just had myself to deal with everything," Ankita said.
Much like her inspiration in Rafael Nadal, Ankita believes she tends to rise to the occasion while playing for the country, a trait she hopes helps her meet her expectations at the Asiad.
"Expectations are high, and so is the goal," Ankita said. "I think every athlete wants the best, and I know I'm capable of achieving that. I've always had the best performances while playing for the country. It just gives me extra motivation," she added.
N ZONE
- 193 Current world WTA ranking of Ankita Raina, making her India’s top women’s singles player. She reached her career-high ranking of 181 in May this year
- 2 No. of titles Ankita has won this year so far: ITF $25,000 tournaments in Thailand last month and Gwalior in March
DID YOU KNOW?
Ankita Raina made her debut Grand Slam appearance this year, losing in the first round qualifying at the French Open. She won her opening qualifying round at the Wimbledon before losing the next
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