Ankita Raina Wins ITF W50 Doubles Title with Naiktha Bains Who Eyes Singles Glory

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India's Ankita Raina claimed her first doubles title in nine months, partnering with Britain's Naiktha Bains to win the ITF W50 event. The duo overcame American fourth seeds Jessie Aney and Jessica Failla in a thrilling final at the DLTA Complex on Saturday.

Ankita secured a 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 victory in one hour and 42 minutes. Although she faced an early exit in the singles competition, she bounced back to clinch the doubles title. This marks her first triumph since April 2024, when she won the Kashiwa event in Japan alongside Taipei's Chia Yi Tsao.

Meanwhile, the singles competition saw seventh seed Tatiana Prozorova and second seed Panna Udvardy book their spots in the final. Prozorova defeated Latvian top seed Darja Semenistaja 7-5, 6-2, while Udvardy comfortably beat British fourth seed Yuriko Lilly Miyazaki 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals earlier in the day.

In the doubles final, the unseeded Indo-British pair started strongly, breaking their opponents in the opening game as Naiktha sealed the break with a forehand winner. They dominated the early exchanges, winning nine consecutive points while the Americans struggled with unforced errors.

After gaining a 3-0 lead, Naiktha faced a tough service game, and the Americans broke back. However, Ankita and Naiktha immediately regained their advantage with Naiktha closing the game on an overhead smash, moving ahead 4-1.

The set continued with multiple breaks of serve from both sides. Ankita managed to hold serve in the final game of the set, securing a 6-4 lead for her team.

In the second set, the American duo capitalized on early breaks, taking a 4-2 lead after breaking both Ankita and Naiktha's serves. Despite their struggles, the unseeded pair stayed competitive and forced the match into a deciding super tiebreak.

In the decider, Ankita and Naiktha held their nerves, edging out their opponents 10-8 to claim the title. This hard-fought victory showcases their resilience and keeps Naiktha's momentum alive as she prepares for her singles final against Miyazaki.