2023-07-07 16:36:21
Varvara Gracheva HANNAH MCKAY / REUTERS
Freshly naturalized, Muscovite Varvara Gracheva, who was playing her first Grand Slam tournament under French colors, almost struck a blow on court number 1 this Friday.
After knocking down Camila Giorgi in the first round, the 41st in the world wobbled the number 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka (2-6, 7-5, 6-2). Very solid and also taking advantage of the opponent’s big faults (16 in the first set, 35 in all and 9 double faults), Gracheva won the first act 6-2. She led 5-4 in the second, before conceding three straight games and the set 7-5. Much livelier, the winner of the last Australian Open made her power speak in the third set 6-2. At a time when the number 2 tricolor, Alizé Cornet is preparing to put away the rackets, French women’s tennis will be able to count on Gracheva. ” I am proud and happy to be able to represent France, confided the now number 2 tricolor. Honestly, I forgot that I was playing as a Frenchwoman in this tournament.“Semi-finalist in 2021 and banned from the tournament last year because of his nationality and the war in Ukraine, Sabalenka did not hide his hot relief: “It was crazy… She played incredibly well and I’m very happy to have wonSaid Sabalenka. “I couldn’t find my rhythm so I tried to hold on».
#close #feat #Gracheva #yields #Sabalenka