Billie Jean King Cup: Ankita Raina’s defeat sends India again to regional competitors

Ankita Raina’s gallant combat led to agony but once more as her defeat in opposition to world quantity 47 Anastasija Sevastova within the must-win Play-offs match on Saturday despatched the Indian workforce again to the Asia/Oceania Group of the Billie Jean King Cup.
After her phenomenal combat in opposition to 2017 French Open champions Jelena Ostapenko on Friday, the India primary once more confirmed abdomen for combat in opposition to superior gamers however Sevastova sealed the match to provide her aspect an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Ranked 174, Ankita misplaced the primary reverse singles match 0-6 6-7(5) to Sevastova, who had acquired the higher of legendary Serena Williams in her workforce’s earlier tie in opposition to the USA.
India had earned promotion to the Play-offs for the primary time within the historical past of the event.
After being bageled within the opening set, Ankita had two set factors at 5-2 within the second set however didn’t convert. After these probabilities had been blown away, Sevastova reeled off 4 video games in a row to puncture India’s hopes.
Ankita saved a match level to tug it to the tie-breaker however Sevastova’s immense expertise helped her seal the tie.
A forehand from Ankita, crusing over the baseline on the breakpoint, gave the Latvian the primary break of the match within the very first recreation. Sevastova made it 2-0 although Ankita stretched the sport together with her fierce returns.
In the third recreation, Ankita netted a backhand on the sport level to be in peril once more however discovered a crushing backhand winner down the road to be on benefit level.
However, the artful Sevastova had Ankita operating on each the flanks and ultimately made it deuce.
A second double fault from Ankita at deuce gave Sevastova an opportunity to get the second break for a 3-0 lead and he or she acquired it when Ankita made a backhand error with a feeble single-hand return that didn’t cross the online.
The Indian couldn’t get on even board with Sevastova calling the photographs. However, there was drama within the second set with Ankita but once more shocking the house camp by rising her recreation by a couple of notches.
A backhand error from the Latvian gave Ankita two breakpoints within the second recreation and one other one gave the Indian a 2-0 lead within the second set.
Ankita made it 3-0 by serving the subsequent recreation at love. However the cushion was misplaced when Ankita dropped her serve within the fifth recreation, because of unforced errors.
A sequence of unforced errors from the house participant meant that the Indian acquired one other break within the sixth recreation when Sevatova buried her backhand on the web to provide Ankita a 4-2 lead, which grew to become a good-looking 5-2 with a assured maintain.
Ankita had an opportunity to shut the set in her favour within the subsequent recreation and drive a decider however Sevastova served effectively to save lots of each.
From there on, it was Sevastova who managed the sport, although Ankita saved a few match factors.