Ankita ousted in Rd 1 by 15-year-old Cori

Paris, May 22

India’s top woman tennis player Ankita Raina was knocked out in the first round of the French Open qualifiers, beaten 6-4 6-4 by 15-year-old Cori Gauff of the USA on Tuesday. Cori is rated as one of the most promising juniors in the US tennis circles, and she showed why as she beat India’s No. 1 player in an hour and 24 minutes.  Cori, the winner of last year’s French Open junior title, is also the youngest ever finalist in the junior singles event at the US Open. 

In the first set, Raina fought back from 2-5 down to close the gap at 4-5, but she was broken in the 10th game to lose the set 4-6. Ankita had her chances in the second set, as she had opened up a 3-1 lead. After that the two broke each other, Ankita still led 4-3 with a break. However, Ankita was broken in the eighth game, and Cori held her own serve to go 5-4 up. Ankita was again broken on her next service game to lose set and match. — Agencies