Naiktha Bains hopes to cap a resurgent return from injury as she attempts to punch her quarter-finals ticket at the LTA’s Lexus Surbiton Trophy.
The 26-year-old from Leeds, who splits her time between Yorkshire and Brisbane, powered through two qualifying rounds in south-west London before dispatching Viktorija Golubic 6-2 7-5 in the first round.
It has not all been plain Surbiton sailing for Bains, losing in the women’s doubles against Emily Appleton and Lily Miyazaki alongside Maia Lumsden on Wednesday in straight sets.
But a shot at making the last eight, should she overcome Australian Olivia Gadecki today, will all be worth it following an injury ordeal in 2023 where Bains unknowingly played on with a fractured rib.
She said: “This year has been the start of coming back, so I’m glad to be playing the tennis I’m playing and trying to get myself back up there.
“I took three to four months out at the end of last year so it’s just taking what I can get and doing the best that I can.
“It was months of doing absolutely nothing because you can’t do anything with a fractured rib.
“I played through it originally not knowing so it was a tough one to take, especially doing quite well.
“I was really looking forward to a positive Asian Swing but that happened in the first tournament away so it was a hard one to swallow.”
Bains and Lumsden became the first British pair to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 40 years after entering the competition as wildcards last summer.
But with their opening tournament of the grass-court season cut short, Bains is putting full focus into her singles exploits on the surface this week.
She said: “I’ve played here quite a few times and I don’t think I’ve had the best of draws the past few years.
“I want to get as many matches as I possibly can, the more matches the better so the aim is to stay in it for as long as possible.
“I’m just glad to be back on court to be honest and that those months over.
“I love this tournament, any home tournament on the grass is my favourite so it’s the best time of the year for me.”
For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images for LTA
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