Tennis

French Open: Sakkari Crashes Out In First Round After Gracheva Upset

World number 88 Varvara Gracheva battled to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Marika Sakkari, claiming a notable Roland-Garros scalp in the first round

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Varvara Gracheva celebrates her first-round win at the French Open on Monday.
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Varvara Gracheva produced an eye-catching upset after sending Maria Sakkari crashing out of the French Open on Monday. (Full Coverage | Tennis News)

World number 88 Gracheva battled to a 3-6 6-4 6-3 victory on Court Simonne-Mathieu, claiming a notable Roland-Garros scalp in the first round.

Gracheva clinched five of six break points in an impressive fightback after falling a set down in Paris to sixth seed Sakkari.

Her reward will be a second-round meeting with Bernarda Pera, who overcame Japan's Nao Hibino in straight sets on the same day.

Data Debrief: Gracheva earns top-10 scalp

Gracheva will be bidding to make the third round in Paris for the third time in her career after Sakkari became the first big-name exit in the women's draw.

This victory against world number eight Sakkari marked Gracheva's fourth top-10 win in her career, and second win against such opponents in major events.