Sunitha Rao

Sunitha Rao (born October 27, 1985) is an Indian-American former professional tennis player.

Not to be confused with Suneeta Rao.
Sunitha Rao
Country (sports) United States (2000–09)
 India (2007–09; Fed Cup and Olympic tournaments only)
ResidenceBradenton, Florida, U.S.
Born (1985-10-27) October 27, 1985
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Turned pro2004
Retired2009
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$ 238,224
Singles
Career record196–188
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 144 (July 7, 2008)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenQ3 (2003, 2005)
French OpenQ2 (2005, 2006)
WimbledonQ3 (2003)
US OpenQ3 (2007)
Doubles
Career record107–105
Career titles0 WTA, 8 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 108 (May 19, 2008)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games2R (2008)

She has won 8 doubles titles on the ITF circuit in her career. On July 7, 2008, she reached her best singles ranking of world number 144. On May 19, 2008, she peaked at world number 108 in the doubles rankings. Rao retirement from tennis 2009.

Playing for India at the Fed Cup, Rao has a win–loss record of 5–6.[1] Rao also is the fourth female tennis player in history representing India to enter the top-200 world rankings, after Nirupama Sanjeev, Shikha Uberoi, and Sania Mirza.

Personal life

Sunitha was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and raised by parents Manohar and Savithri.

Career

2002–2007

Rao played her first WTA match at the 2002 Brasil Open – Women's Singles event, where she defeated Vanessa Henke in the first round. She was beaten by Anastasia Myskina in the second round.

Rao played at the Hansol Korea Open 2004 where she was beaten by Miho Saeki in the first round. Rao participated at the Internationaux de Strasbourg 2005, but was overpowered by Iveta Benešová in the first round. Then she played at the Sunfeast Open where she beat Neha Uberoi in the first round before falling to Elena Likhovtseva.

She took part at the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic 2006, where she lost to Angelique Widjaja in the First Round. She also suffered a first round defeat at the 2006 Sunfeast Open to Nicole Pratt. Rao defeated Sandy Gumulya in the First Round of the Sunfeast Open to advance to the second round where she lost to Anne Keothavong. She then lost in the first round of the 2007 Challenge Bell to Alina Jidkova.

2008

Rao received an entry into the PTT Pattaya Open via a Lucky Loser spot. She beat Junri Namigata before losing to Ekaterina Bychkova. Then, at the Copa Colsanitas, she lost to Edina Gallovits in the first round.

Rao received the best result of her WTA career at the 2008 DFS Classic in Birmingham. She beat Petra Kvitová (who would be the future world no.2 and Wimbledon titlist) in the first round and Naomi Cavaday in the second before falling to Alona Bondarenko in the third round.

She partnered with Sania Mirza, representing India in the women's doubles event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[2][3] They got a walk-over in round one, but lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina of Russia in round two.

Controversy

In 2003, when asked by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to represent India in WTA and ITF tournaments, her family asked for Rs. 5 crores, an offer that the AITA refused.[4]

Rao, along with Sania Mirza,[5] was photographed violating the dress code at Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony parade in 2008.[6][7]

ITF Finals

Singles (0–7)
Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$15,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 1. February 24, 2002 Mumbai, India Hard Peng Shuai 3–6, 6–7(3–7)
Runner-up 2. November 10, 2002 Mexico City, Mexico Hard Olga Vymetálková 6–7(2–7), 3–6
Runner-up 3. October 17, 2004 Mackay, Australia Hard Evie Dominikovic 5–7, 3–6
Runner-up 4. October 24, 2004 Rockhampton, Australia Hard Evie Dominikovic 0–6, 0–2 ret.
Runner-up 5. July 8, 2007 Southlake, United States Hard Alexa Glatch 2–6, 5–7
Runner-up 6. October 14, 2007 San Francisco, United States Hard Ashley Harkleroad 1–6, 2–6
Runner-up 7. March 22, 2008 Noida, India Hard Anastasija Sevastova 2–6, 1–6

Doubles (8–7)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score
Runner-up 1. January 18, 2004 Tampa, United States Hard Milangela Morales Alisa Kleybanova
Mayumi Yamamoto		 2–6, 4–6
Runner-up 2. May 16, 2004 Charlottesville, United States Clay Vilmarie Castellvi Erica Krauth
Jessica Lehnhoff		 0–6, 1–6
Winner 1. November 14, 2004 Port Pirie, Australia Hard Casey Dellacqua Daniella Dominikovic
Evie Dominikovic		 4–6, 6–3, 7–6(8–6)
Winner 2. November 13, 2005 Port Pirie, Australia Hard Gréta Arn Monique Adamczak
Christina Horiatopoulos		 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
Winner 3. November 27, 2005 Mount Gambier, Australia Hard Ryoko Fuda Gréta Arn
Anastasia Rodionova		 6–1, ret.
Winner 4. May 7, 2006 Charlottesville, United States Clay Marie-Ève Pelletier Maria Fernanda Alves
Lilia Osterloh		 6–7(6–8), 6–2, 6–3
Runner-up 3. July 23, 2006 Hammond, United States Hard Ryōko Fuda Christina Fusano
Raquel Kops-Jones		 6–7(3–7), 6–4, 1–6
Runner-up 4. October 8, 2006 Traralgon, Australia Hard Casey Dellacqua Christina Horiatopoulos
Raquel Kops-Jones		 2–6, 6–7(5–7)
Winner 5. October 15, 2006 Melbourne, Australia Hard Casey Dellacqua Daniella Dominikovic
Evie Dominikovic		 6–3, 6–2
Runner-up 5. January 20, 2007 Fort Walton Beach, United States Hard Marie-Ève Pelletier Angelika Bachmann
Tetiana Luzhanska		 7–5, 6–7(7–9), 6–7(4–7)
Winner 6. June 2, 2007 Carson, United States Hard Kim Grant Angela Haynes
Lindsay Lee-Waters		 6–4, 6–4
Winner 7. June 17, 2007 Allentown, United States Hard Ryōko Fuda Angela Haynes
Lindsay Lee-Waters		 6–7(3–7), 6–4, 6–1
Runner-up 6. March 14, 2008 New Delhi, India Hard Aurélie Védy Ji Chunmei
Sun Shengnan		 6–2, 2–6, [4–10]
Winner 8. May 11, 2008 Zagreb, Croatia Clay Melinda Czink Stéphanie Foretz
Jelena Kostanić Tošić		 6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 7. October 5, 2008 Troy, United States Hard Angela Haynes Raquel Kops-Jones
Abigail Spears		 2–6, 0–6

References
  1. Sunitha Rao at the Billie Jean King Cup
  2. "India names 57-member squad for Beijing Olympics". IBNLive. July 25, 2008. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
  3. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Sunitha Rao". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016.
  4. Shekar, Nirmal (August 7, 2003). "Putting a price on patriotism? You must be joking!". The Hindu.
  5. "Slipshod India cuts a sorry figure in Olympic opening ceremony". IBNLive. August 9, 2008. Archived from the original on July 30, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  6. "Olympics: Intruder in Indian contingent". Yahoo! India News. July 29, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  7. "I'll play with anyone for my country: Sania Mirza". The Times of India. July 8, 2012. Archived from the original on May 20, 2014.

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