Ankita Raina bows out of French Open Qualifiers; Ramkumar Ramanathan and Sumit Nagal qualify for next round

Ankita Raina’s efforts to qualify for the singles main draw of a Grand Slam didn’t come to fruition once again as she crashed out of the French Open Qualifiers on Wednesday, in a second round defeat to higher-ranked German Greet Minnen.

The 28-year-old could win only two games in the whole match that lasted for a duration of an hour and 21 minutes. She was able to convert only one of the three break points and therefore, lost the match 2-6, 0-6.

This was Ankita’s seventh attempt to qualify for the main draw of a major. She did reach the final round of the Australian Open qualifying event this year but couldn’t make it further.

Meanwhile, men’s singles players Ramkumar Ramanathan and Sumit Nagal made it to the next round.

Nagal, who is India’s highest ranked tennis player, defeated Italy’s Roberto Marcora 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of qualifiers. Ramanathan also made it to the second round as he beat the USA’s Michael Mmoh, who is ranked higher than him, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

The 23-year-old Nagal looked in pretty good touch against his Italian opponent, who was ranked 192 as compared to Nagal’s 143rd position. The Indian dominated right from the start and showed that he has the intent to make it all the way. He will take on Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo — ranked 166 in the world — in the next round.

Ramanathan, who is ranked 215 in the rankings, won his first game on French clay in six years. The 26-year-old clinched the second set tie-break against his opponent with a serve-and-volley-point. It was a pretty good performance considering the overcast and rainy conditions.

He has a rather difficult opponent coming up in the next round. Ramanathan will take on Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, who is ranked 33rd in the World.