Varvara Gracheva, of Russia, returns a shot to Kristina Mladenovic, of France, during the second round of the US Open tennis championships. Photo / AP
Quite a comeback or epic meltdown?
No. 30 seed Kristina Mladenovic served for the victory while leading 6-1, 5-1 against Varvara Gracheva in the second round of the U.S. Open — and lost.
Mladenovic let that huge lead slip away, failing to convert four match points along the way, and eventually, Gracheva came all the way back to win 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-0.
Said Mladenovic: "She was brave and she went for it."
Gracheva is a Russian who is ranked 102nd and is a month past her 20th birthday.
This is her first Grand Slam tournament.
She will face No. 8 Petra Martic in the third round.
Even at world No 58, Raducanu remains one of the most marketable players in the sport.