In a sport dominated by power and pedigree, Ankita Raina has quietly built an extraordinary legacy. As India’s undisputed No. 1 female tennis player, she achieved the rare feat of featuring in all four Grand Slam main draws – a distinction no other Indian woman can claim.
Born in Ahmedabad, Raina’s path was paved with challenges typical of Indian tennis hopefuls: limited facilities, funding woes, and fierce competition. Yet, she persevered, training under coach Rohan Gajjar and later abroad. Her 2018 WTA 125 victory in Chinese Taipei marked her arrival, followed by strong showings in qualifying rounds worldwide.
Raina’s versatility shines through her results. She cracked the singles main draw at the 2019 US Open, battled through Wimbledon qualifiers multiple times, and tested herself on Roland Garros clay. In doubles, her partnerships yielded Fed Cup points for India and a bronze at the 2018 Asian Games.
Ranked as high as No. 188 in singles, Raina has over 15 ITF titles to her credit. Her role in nurturing the next generation, including mentoring juniors at her academy, underscores her commitment. As she eyes comebacks post-injury, Raina’s story motivates aspiring athletes to dream big.
India’s tennis future looks brighter because of pioneers like her. With potential Billie Jean King Cup contributions ahead, Raina is far from done rewriting records.
