Andreeva sends local hope Gracheva packing to reach French Open quarter-finals

Varvara Gracheva, a Russian-born Frenchwoman, rode a wave of support from the large partisan crowd but was defeated 7-5, 6-2 by teenager Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round of the French Open on Monday.

It was a disappointing end for fans on Court Suzanne Lenglen, who had taken to Gracheva after she gained French nationality last year, but they also recognised rising Russian 17-year-old Andreeva, who became the youngest player to reach the French Open's women's quarterfinals since 2006.

Andreeva cruised through the first set and broke Gracheva early in the second, but the 88th-ranked Frenchwoman raised her game in the third game, producing a massive forehand to temporarily deter her opponent.

The joy was short-lived, though, as Andreeva finished the match with power and precision in 91 minutes.

"There are things I could have done better. I could perhaps do away with the mistakes I made, the faults on my forehand which was played too quickly," Gracheva said. "I have to be more patient."

Ranked 88th at the start of the tournament, the Frenchwoman is expected to jump to 70th when the rankings are updated on Monday, allowing her to compete in the Paris Olympics as the fourth-best French player.

"It's a beautiful memory for me and my team. I will try and enjoy that moment for as long as I can," she said.

The usually fickle French crowd chanted Andreeva's name and gave her a standing ovation as 23-year-old Gracheva left the court, wondering what might have been.

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

SportsLigue