Wimbledon 2023: Sabalenka avoids upset against Gracheva, progresses to third round

Sabalenka reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2021, but was banned last year along with all Belarusian and Russian players due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning her second-round match against Varvara Gracheva at Wimbledon on Friday. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka recovered from a set down to beat France’s Varvara Gracheva 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 and reach the last 32 at Wimbledon on Friday.

Russia-born Gracheva, who recently became a French citizen, broke the Belarusian three times in the first set to take control on No. 1 Court.

The second set was a much tighter affair, with serve dominating until Sabalenka pounced in the 11th game, creating three break points and capitalising on the second.

Roaring Back 😤

No.2 seed @SabalenkaA fights back from a set down against Varvara Gracheva to move on, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/3rtP2WZtZv

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2023

She served out for the set, levelling the match when Gracheva went long with a forehand.

“I was little bit crazy in that moment. I mean, I can’t throw my racket on the grass, so I felt like at least I need to scream, kind of lose it a little bit. After that I felt a little bit better. I felt a little relief inside,” the 25-year-old told a press conference.

“I felt like I started thinking a little bit better.”

Australian Open champion Sabalenka broke early in the decider to take a 2-1 lead and underlined the momentum shift by repeating the feat to stretch her lead to 5-2.

The 25-year-old sealed victory with an ace to set up a third-round clash against Russia’s Anna Blinkova.

Sabalenka reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2021, but was banned last year along with all Belarusian and Russian players due to the invasion of Ukraine.