Gracheva Eliminated Early by Parks in Miami Despite a Match Point

Just a few days after the conclusion of Indian Wells, tennis fans have no time to catch their breath. The focus now shifts to the second major tournament of the Sunshine Double, and Tuesday, March 18, marks the start of the first-round matches in the women's draw.

The first match on the center court in the late morning featured France's Varvara Gracheva, ranked 65th in the world, against Alycia Parks, ranked 59th in the WTA, in what promised to be a closely contested battle. Under the beautiful Florida sun, Gracheva hoped to make a strong start and advance to the second round.

The beginning of the match favored Gracheva, who quickly secured the first set and then took control in the second set as well. The quarterfinalist from the last Roland-Garros tournament served for the match and even led 6-3, 5-3, 30-0. However, nerves took over, and Parks fought back to break serve.

Varvara Gracheva held on, earning a match point in the following return game, but Parks saved it, and the battle intensified. Ultimately, a tiebreak decided the second set, and Parks, showing no mercy, didn’t drop a single point in it to level the match at one set apiece.

At that moment, Gracheva didn’t yet realize it, but she had just let her chance slip away. With a strong serving performance (13 aces throughout the match), Parks eventually found the solution.

On her second match point, the 24-year-old American secured the victory (3-6, 7-6, 6-3 in 2 hours and 19 minutes) and advanced to the second round, where she will face Leylah Fernandez. As for Gracheva, her challenging start to the 2025 season continues, with seven losses in eleven matches played so far.