The Indian Women’s Tennis Team, led by Ankita Raina, displayed a commendable performance in their final match of the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 Asia/Oceania Group I against New Zealand. Despite their best efforts, they suffered a 1-2 defeat.
Indian team’s gutsy performance in Billie Jean King Cup
The match began with Rutuja Bhosale, ranked 379th in the world, giving India an early lead by defeating Monique Barry, ranked 632nd. Bhosale’s victory came after a hard-fought match that lasted one hour and 41 minutes. She won the first set comfortably and managed to hold her nerve in the second set to secure a 6-2, 7-6 victory.
However, the tide turned in the second singles match. Ankita Raina, ranked 255th, faced a challenging opponent in Lulu Sun, ranked 169th. Despite Raina’s best efforts, Sun proved too strong, winning the match 6-2, 6-0. This victory levelled the tie at 1-1.
In the decisive doubles match, Raina paired up with Prarthana Thombare to take on Erin Routliffe and Paige Hourigan of New Zealand. The Indian duo put up a spirited fight, especially in the second set, but ultimately lost the match 1-6, 7-5. This defeat marked India’s second loss in Group I, following a 3-0 defeat to China earlier.
Despite the series loss, the Indian team’s performance in the tournament was noteworthy. They secured wins over Pacific Oceania (3-0), Chinese Taipei (2-1), and South Korea (2-1). These victories highlight the team’s potential and the progress they have made in recent years.
The Billie Jean King Cup 2024 served as a valuable learning experience for the Indian team. They finished third in the Asia/Oceania Group I, missing out on a historic play-off berth. However, their performance against higher-ranked teams like New Zealand demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest level.
🎾India fails to progress BJK Cup Playoffs with a 1-2 loss over New Zealand.
Rutuja won her match, whereas Ankita & Prarthana/Ankita lost the rubber.
With New Zealand, Korea & India at 3 wins & 2 losses, Korea progressed to the play-offs with a better match win-loss record. pic.twitter.com/Icb5hc8xhS
— SPORTS ARENA🇮🇳 (@SportsArena1234) April 13, 2024
Looking ahead, the Indian team will remain in Group I for the Billie Jean King Cup in 2025. This provides them with another opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in the region and continue their development. The lessons learned from this tournament will undoubtedly aid in their preparation for future competitions.
