WTA 125 Contrexéville: Four French Players Advance to the Round of 16
After a rain-disrupted schedule on Tuesday, the first round of the WTA 125 tournament in Contrexéville concluded early Wednesday. Top seed Varvara Gracheva made a strong start, defeating her compatriot Margaux Rouvroy (6-4, 6-2) to secure her spot in the round of 16, where she will face Julia Riera, who overcame Mathilde Lollia (5-7, 6-3, 6-1).
Another French player who triumphed on Wednesday was Elsa Jacquemot. Following her third-round run at Roland-Garros and second-round appearance at Wimbledon, the world No. 113 and fourth seed wasted no time against Susan Bandecchi (6-2, 7-5). She will next play the winner of the match between Giorgia Pedone and Kathinka Von Deichmann for a place in the quarterfinals.
Gracheva and Jacquemot join the two other Frenchwomen who had already advanced earlier in the competition: Carole Monnet, who defeated compatriot Julie Belgraver (6-2, 6-2), and Amandine Hesse, who ousted second seed Léolia Jeanjean (6-2, 3-6, 6-3).
However, Tessah Andrianjafitrimo (beaten by Francesca Jones in straight sets), Selena Janicijevic (dominated by Alina Charaeva), and Tiantsoa Rakotomanga (eliminated by Laura Pigossi in three sets) exited the tournament in their opening matches. Monnet will face Jones in the next round, while Hesse is set to take on Lola Radivojevic.
Contrexeville 
