Nonetheless, the affair obtained off to a nasty begin. Considerably asphyxiated in the course of the first spherical, Gracheva – largely overwhelmed in Rome by her Greek rival (6/2, 6/2) – initially absorbed the blows. However the 23-year-old right-hander didn’t let it get her down. Buoyed by the robust encouragement from the general public, she maintained a optimistic perspective, even when her opponent got here again from 4-1 to 4-4 within the second set. With an excellent backhand cross, the Frenchwoman received the set and by no means once more launched her grip on the match.
Smiling all through the assembly, she received the lengthy rallies till she exhausted her prestigious opponent. Regardless of a bit of scare and a break level saved at 5-3, Gracheva didn’t give in: along with her finger on her temple, she didn’t fail to have a good time her feat, which opens the doorways to the second spherical. She’s going to discover Bernarda Pera there.