Gracheva reaches the second round of the Australian Open

The first round of the Australian Open continues on the third day of competition. In the French clan, Varvara Gracheva had a great opportunity to reach the second round in Melbourne.

Eliminated in the second round by Yastremska last year, the Frenchwoman will have the opportunity to beat her best performance in Australia.

In her opening match, the 69th-ranked Frenchwoman faced a tough match against Catherine McNally, a former top 60 player who has slipped below 500th place due to a number of injuries.

Gracheva, 24, didn't let her chance slip and won in two sets (6-3, 6-4 in 1h23).

In the next round, she will face German lucky loser Eva Lys, who took advantage of Anna Kalinskaya's withdrawal to eliminate Kimberly Birrell (6-2, 6-2).

Gracheva will be the only French player in the women's draw to reach the second round, following the elimination of Caroline Garcia, Léolia Jeanjean, Chloé Paquet and Diane Parry in their opening matches.