Russian teenager Andreeva sends local hopeful Gracheva packing

PARIS, June 4 — Russian-born Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva rode a huge wave of support from a large partisan crowd, but could not prevent a 7-5 6-2 defeat to the teenager Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round of Roland-Garros yesterday.

It was a disappointing end for fans on court Suzanne Lenglen who had chosen Gracheva after gaining French citizenship last year, but they also recognized 17-year-old Russian Andreeva, who becomes the youngest player to achieve the women's quarter-finals at the French Championships. Open since 2006.

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Andreeva cruised through the first set and broke Gracheva early in the second, but the Frenchwoman, ranked 88th, raised her level in the third game and produced a huge forehand to temporarily thwart her opponent.

The joy was short-lived, however, as Andreeva made almost no mistake with power and precision to finish the match in 91 minutes.

“There are things I could have done better. Maybe I could have erased the mistakes I made, the mistakes on my forehand that were played too fast,” Gracheva said. “I need to be more patient.”

Ranked 88th at the start of the tournament, the Frenchwoman should rise to 70th place in the ranking updated yesterday, which should allow her to participate in the Paris Olympics as the fourth best French player.

“It’s a beautiful memory for me and my team. I will try to enjoy this moment as long as possible,” she said.

The usually fickle French crowd chanted Andreeva's name and gave her a huge ovation as Gracheva, 23, left the field wondering what could have happened.

In the next round, she will face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka who beat American Emma Navarro 6-2 6-3 earlier in the day. -Reuters