Relief for French tennis. Once is not customary, in these gloomy times, there will be at least one representative in the second week of a Grand Slam singles. Clara Burel and Océane Dodin won their ticket to the third round of the Australian Open this Thursday by both creating a surprise, and will compete for a place in the round of 16.
The prize undoubtedly goes to Clara Burel. The 22-year-old from Rennes (51st WTA) took out number 5 seed Jessica Pegula (6-4, 6-2). A victory accomplished in one hour and ten minutes shows the mastery of the Frenchwoman.
Océane Dodin (95th) is also living a waking dream. Opposed to the Italian Martina Trevisa (59th), the 27-year-old player only needed two sets. The Lille native had never reached the third round of a Major in twenty appearances.
???????????? Cocorico, there will be a Frenchwoman in the round of 16 in Melbourne: Burel achieves a small feat against Pegula and will meet Dodin in the 3rd round!
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— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) January 18, 2024
These two performances bring a smile back to French women’s tennis, the day after the premature elimination of Caroline Garcia. The main French chance at the start of the week, the winner of the 2022 Masters failed in the 2nd round and finished the meeting, filled with dismay and doubts about the future of her career.
