In a compelling quarter-final clash at the WTA 125 clay court tournament in Contrexéville, France, unseeded Oksana Selekhmeteva pulled off a significant upset, defeating the No. 92 ranked Varvara Gracheva. World No. 144 Selekhmeteva navigated the match with composure, securing her spot in the semi-finals with a 7-5, 6-3 victory.
The encounter spanned 1 hour and 46 minutes, featuring extended rallies characteristic of clay court tennis. While Gracheva, representing France, is ranked considerably higher, Selekhmeteva demonstrated tactical maturity beyond her ranking. The opening set was a tight affair, with both players exchanging breaks, but Selekhmeteva found the decisive break late to clinch it 7-5.
The second set saw Selekhmeteva maintain her momentum, breaking Gracheva`s serve multiple times to establish a commanding lead. The statistics from the match highlight Selekhmeteva`s opportunistic play; she converted an impressive seven break point opportunities compared to Gracheva`s four. While Gracheva hit two aces to Selekhmeteva`s zero, and both players committed four double faults, Selekhmeteva ultimately won more total points (87 to 78), reflecting her ability to capitalize on key moments.
This victory marks a notable moment in the head-to-head rivalry between the two players, leveling their series at one win apiece. For Selekhmeteva, it continues a strong run in Contrexéville, culminating in her reaching the final four.
Looking ahead, Oksana Selekhmeteva will face another challenge in the semi-finals against local French player Elsa Jacquemot. The match promises to be a test against a home favorite spurred on by the partisan crowd, but Selekhmeteva has already proven her capability to overcome higher-ranked opponents on the Contrexéville clay.
