New Delhi: India number one Ankita Raina today toppled eighth seed Ysaline Bonaventure in her opening round at the USD 25,000 ITF women`s event in Koksijde, Belgium.
Ranked 277, Ankita beat the local wild card 6-1 2-6 6-4 after a strong start.
Ankita had raced to a 5-0 in the opening set before the Belgian sought a medical timeout. Ysaline manged to hold her serve in the sixth but Ankita served out the set without any fuss in the next game.
However, Ysaline fought back and played more aggressive as she retrieved almost everything that Ankita threw and brought the match to level terms by winning the second set.
In the decider, Ankita made a solid start as she led 3-1 but the Belgian was not letting it go easily. She made it 3-3 and then after trading a break each it was 4-4. Ankita broke Ysaline for one more time for a 5-4 lead.
Serving for the match, the Indian was in a spot of bother facing two break points but saved both and closed the contest in her favour.
Ankita, who has made one final at the USD 25,000 level this season, next takes on winner of the first round match between Irina Ramialison from France and Susanne Celik from Sweden.
The Indian is also competing the doubles event of the tournament as he has teamed up with Ukraine`s Ganna Poznikhirenko.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, August 6, 2014, 00:11
