Diane Parry triumphed tonight against the Mexican Renata Zarazua, during the second round of the US Open. An intense match, with a magnificent third set.
It was a match that promised to be complicated, and it was! Diane Parry faced this evening Renata Zarazua, 82nd in the world in the WTA rankings, for the second round of the US Open. The Mexican had made an impression in the first round by defeating the sixth seed, American Madison Keys. A performance that turned all the spotlights on her.
Diane Parry had a few difficulties entering her match. While serving first, the tense Frenchwoman made too many mistakes early in the exchanges and conceded a break immediately. The Mexican found superb zones in all four corners of the court. The Nice native took advantage of the second changeover to regroup. More assertive, she recovered her serve (2-2). The Frenchwoman found much more depth in her shots, notably with sliced backhands that troubled the Mexican.
The tricolor was more relaxed and committed fewer unforced errors. This energy allowed her to break her opponent and then confirm it. The Frenchwoman was more aggressive, more incisive. She prevented Renata Zarazua from developing her tennis. Diane Parry’s sliced serve was a real strength in this set. This dynamic allowed the tricolor to win the first set (6-2).
A second set to forget for the Nice native
The start of the second set was similar to the first. Diane Parry was tense again, made errors too quickly, and was broken again at the beginning of the set. The Mexican served better and better, becoming more precise on her first serves. She took the upper hand on Diane Parry. A symbol of this domination was Renata Zarazua winning nine of the last ten rallies played.
Despite a new break back from the Nice native, the scenario did not turn in her favor this time. This was due to too many errors from the Frenchwoman. She lost her serve again, almost gifting a game to the Mexican due to the errors committed. Renata Zarazua did not need much more to get back into the match. The crowd came alive, warming to the Mexican’s cause. The Nice native lost her footing in this second set (2-6). In total, she committed four double faults and 12 unforced errors in this set.
A neck-and-neck third set
The third and final set of this match was fiercely contested. The battle was intense in this last set, with the fifth game lasting no less than ten minutes. Both players kept holding their service games in turn. The rallies were much longer than in the first two sets. The level of play rose a notch in this last set. Diane Parry missed the chance to serve for the match, squandering two break points at 4-3. The Nice native did not let the disappointment get to her. On the other hand, her opponent showed no emotion.
Neither of the two players wanted to give up their serve, so the match was decided by a tiebreak, to ten points. A Super Tiebreak that the Frenchwoman dominated for a long time, leading 8-3. As the Nice native moved towards victory, cramps appeared. A huge hindrance to the Frenchwoman’s serve. Encouraged by a crowd chanting “Si se puede” (Yes, we can, in Spanish, Editor’s note). Despite a comeback, within just two small points, it was indeed Diane Parry who won, 10-7 in the tiebreak.
The tricolor reached the third round of the US Open for the first time in her career. She will face Marta Kostyuk for a place in the second week of the New York Grand Slam.
