Ankita Raina, an Indian tennis star, will represent Gujarat Panthers in Pune during the fourth Tennis Premier League season.
Ankita Raina, a world-class tennis player from India, will compete in the fourth season of the Tennis Premier League (TPL), which will begin today (December 7) in Pune. Raina said in an exclusive interview with News18 that she is very excited to be a part of the TPL because the tournament will give her the opportunity.
Indian tennis has developed over the past few years, with more tournaments opening up opportunities for young players.
Raina stated that participating in a league-based tournament like TPL is exciting because it motivates the players and brings in a large number of spectators, encouraging them to put their best foot forward.
It is crucial to the sport. All of the elite players are spending time here, disrupting their schedules. We are all aware that tennis is a sport in which we must travel, compete for 25 to 30 weeks, and find it difficult to adjust our schedules at the end of the year. However, TPL is going to be an exciting week with a different atmosphere because the team and owner will be present. We will especially have audiences.
Young players are exposed to franchise-based leagues, and Raina is of the opinion that such leagues also aid players financially. Raina thanked the TPL founders, Kunal Thakur and Mrunal Jain, prior to the start of the tournament for providing a significant platform for all Indian tennis players. She will be seen competing for the Gujarat Panthers in the TPL.
Raina participated recently in the W25 Traralgon 18 A doubles competition with Indonesian player P Nugroho, but she lost in the finals to Katherine Westbury and Destanee Aiava. Raina had a better year overall in 2022 in doubles than in singles. I believe my position has improved significantly since the September Korea Open. I’m back in my groove and the performance is better. I have always played more singles, and playing doubles has helped me do that.
After the International Tennis Federation (ITF) made the announcement on Tuesday, tennis fans expressed their displeasure with the new Hopman Cup.
The mixed-team competition, which took place prior to the Australian Open from 1989 to 2019, was named after the late Australian Davis Cup captain Harry Hopman. In 2020, it was replaced by the ATP Cup, a team competition that only featured male players. In 2023, the event is scheduled to return to the tour. However, it has moved from Australia to the French city of Nice.
It will be played on the Nice Lawn Tennis Club’s clay courts from July 19 to July 23. The hosting rights were awarded to the city for five years, until 2027. In 2023 and 2024, six teams will compete against each other; from 2025 on, two more will be added.
Despite the fact that fans used to cherish the competition, they were not intrigued with the news in light of multiple factors like over the top group occasions, the shift from Australia to France, and an earth competition just after Wimbledon.