Ankita Raina failed to capitalise on her chances and was beaten 6-4, 7-5 by qualifier Anastasiya Komardina of Russia in the semifinals of the $15,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament on the grass courts of the Oudh Gymkhana Club here on Friday.
The second-seeded Ankita led 3-1 in the first and ahead 3-0 and 4-2 in the second, but allowed her opponent to run her down.
However, Ankita had the satisfaction of winning the doubles title in the company of Emily Webley Smith of Britain. Incidentally, the Briton had also lost her singles semifinals, rather tamely, to the top-seeded Sofia Shapatava of Georgia.
Ankita and Emily warded off the challenge from Olympian Rushmi Chakravarthi and her partner Nidhi Chilumula in straight sets for the doubles crown. It was the seventh doubles title on the international circuit for Ankita, and the third of the season. Interestingly, Ankita had won two of those titles with Rushmi.
The results: Singles (semifinals): Sofia Shapatava (Geo) bt Emily Webley Smith (GBR) 6-1, 6-1; Anastasiya Komardina (Rus) bt Ankita Raina 6-4, 7-5. Doubles (final): Ankita Raina and Emily Webley Smith (GBR) bt Rushmi Chakravarthi and Nidhi Chilumula 6-2, 6-4.