In a post-match interview, Ankita Raina dissects her victory against Daria Kudashova, revealing the tactical shifts and mental challenges that defined her performance on court.
Ankita: This was the first match, I’ve played her before actually, I think last year amid different conditions and obviously this one was home for me. But I felt a bit rusty out there today. Glad that I managed. I think I had most of the momentum as I started coming back after like 5-2 down (in 1st set) till 4-0 (in 2nd set). But then I think one or two points where I felt really uneasy and kind of felt like I was gonna throw up and that sort of changed it a bit physically for me. But yeah I’m happy and proud of myself that I pulled it off.
Interviewer: What do you think about the conditions out there? In terms of the bounce, in terms of the weather, and everything?
Ankita: I’ve played here before and I like the conditions I’ve done well here before. In 2023 I’ve made finals.
Interviewer: What is your thought process when you’re coming back down from 2-5 in the first set and again coming back after being 4-0 in the second?
Ankita: In the first set I was trying to find what I can do to change it up a bit and I knew that I would have some or the other opportunity and I got that. Then it changed the rhythm of the match towards me. But then yeah like I said before, those one or two points at 4-0 where I felt really bad, and that sort of changed it for me. I had to take a medical time out.
Interviewer: How did you come back after that, when you were getting back out there? Was it really difficult? What was your thought process?
Ankita: I think I stayed in there, hung in. Obviously, I could see it was difficult for her as well for having long rallies. It wasn’t very aggressive. I think sometimes after playing for so many years and all this experience, it will not always be very pretty out there. It might not look very great from outside, but you just have to do the job, and that’s what I did today.