Two years after their duel, Diane Parry faced Petra Martiฤ again in the first round of Wimbledon.
The last confrontation between the two players was in July 2023, also at Wimbledon (a defeat in three sets for Diane Parry). But this time, the situation has changed. The 22-year-old French player approaches this first round with strong momentum and a desire to take her revenge. Having qualified with authority after three victories over Oleksandra Oliynykova, Alina Charaeva, and Emerson Jones, Diane Parry only lost one set during these qualifiers. Calm and solid, she displayed varied and intelligent tennis, supported by her famous backhand slice, very effective on grass. She is playing her fourth consecutive Wimbledon, a valuable consistency at her age.
Opposite her, Petra Martiฤ remains a formidable opponent on grass. A former world number 14 (January 2020), she knows the nuances of grass very well. She too came through the qualifiers, with tighter victories, notably in three sets against Maddison Inglis and then Panna Udvardy. At 34, the Croatian may no longer have the same explosiveness as before, but her game sense and experience remain formidable.
The memory of their 2023 second round match still lingers. But Diane Parry has improved, both mentally and physically. More aggressive and more consistent, she seems better equipped to reverse the trend. In a duel promising variety and tactical tension, the French player can believe in her chances. A victory would ideally kickstart her fortnight in London.
Lack of consistency for Diane Parryย
Diane Parry begins the match serving, and from the first serve, the tone is set: a short and skidding slice that pushes Petra Martiฤ out of the court. This weapon, she must use throughout the match. But this first game is not easy: two deuces, some long faults, a bit of nervousnessโฆ Ultimately, she manages to hold her serve.
On the other side, Petra Martiฤ struggles to find her first serve. Diane Parry tries to take advantage, plays aggressively, but the Croatian holds firm. At one-all, both players are still searching for their footing.
The match takes time to really start. Many unforced errors, few constructed ralliesโฆ until 2-2, where the first turning point occurs. Petra Martiฤ earns two break points. Diane Parry saves them with courage, but endures a double fault on the third.
This lost game shifts the momentum. Petra Martiฤ increases her aggression and precision. While Diane Parry remains present and tenacious, she struggles to unsettle her opponent during her service games. The Croatian maintains her dominance: 4-2, then 5-3.
At 5-4, Petra Martiฤ doesn’t falter. An effective first serve and a well-managed final rally, she clinches the set 6-4 in just over 40 minutes. Diane Parry showed good intentions, but too much inconsistency to really challenge a solid and experienced Petra Martiฤ.
Diane Parry pulls evenย
The second set begins in the same disjointed rhythm as the first. The rallies are short, with many errors. After two balanced games, Petra Martiฤ takes advantage of a lapse from Diane Parry to come back from 0-40 to deuceโฆ but the French player produces a spectacular lob at 30-40, a stroke of genius to draw level at 2-2.
Buoyed by this spectacular point, Diane Parry steps up her game. She takes the lead 3-2, then pushes Petra Martiฤ to her limits during her service game. A passing shot, a new precise lob: two break points at stake. But the Croatian, mentally solid, erases them to equalize at 3-3.
No room for doubt for Diane Parry. At 4-3, the French player strings together aggressive returns. Petra Martiฤ accumulates errors and offers three break points. On the third, she completely cracks, and Diane Parry breaks her opponent’s serve to lead 5-3.
Right afterwards, she remains calm. A clean game and the set is secured for Diane Parry, 6-3. Everything is reset before this decisive final set.ย
Diane Parry with authorityย
The beginning of this third set is cautious on both sides. Diane Parry and Petra Martiฤ comfortably win their service games, holding back their aggression.
But at 1-1, Diane Parry raises her level. She earns a first break point, saved by Petra Martiฤ, then a secondโฆ and a third. On a gross error by the Croatian, Diane Parry breaks her serve to lead 2-1.
The French player solidifies her advantage confidently: 3-1. Meanwhile, Petra Martiฤ starts making more and more errors, affected by the pace and variety of Diane Parry, who remains very solid during rallies.
At 4-2, an endless game lasting more than ten minutes turns the momentum decisively. Diane Parry stays patient and intense, securing a crucial double break. 5-2, with her serve still to come to close the match.
Without a hitch, Diane Parry wraps up the set 6-2 with mastery and determination. A well-deserved victory, achieved both mentally and through her gameplay.
The French player advances to the second round of Wimbledon, where she will face the winner of the match between Diana Shnaider and Moyuka Uchijima.
