Who is Coco Gauff's US Open 2024 1R opponent Varvara Gracheva? All you need to know about the Frenchwoman who used to represent Russia
Varvara Gracheva is Coco Gauff's opponent in the first round of US Open 2024. The 23-year-old used to represent Russia in tennis before switching to France in 2023, and she is currently 66th in the WTA rankings.
Coco Gauff enters the US Open as the defending champion after winning just three out of her last six matches. The most recent of these include a second-round exit at her title defense in Cincinnati, which saw her drop a spot to third in the WTA rankings.
Gauff's title defense at the US Open will start against Varvara Gracheva who currently represents France but used to compete for Russia earlier. Gracheva was born in Moscow in 2000 but shifted to France at the age of 16, training at the Elite Tennis Centre, which is located in Cannes.
She represented Russia at the start of her career, reaching the third round at four Grand Slams. Gracheva was involved in a moment of drama in 2023 at the ATX Open. She reached her maiden WTA singles final at the ATP 250 event in Austin, and lost 3-6, 5-7 to Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, who refused to shake her hand after the match.
Shortly after this, Gracheva spoke to the Daily Mail about wanting to represent France, saying:
"It's something that we never really aim for. So why not? Why not take the opportunity? But the decision doesn't depend on me, there are other people who will decide my future. I will say more if I get my papers. We put all the paperwork in this month."
Gracheva eventually became a French national in June 2023. Her first tournament representing the country came at that year's Bad Homburg Open, where she reached the quarterfinals.
Varvara Gracheva has won 23 out of 43 matches so far in the 2024 season, with a fourth-round appearance at the French Open being her best performance.
Coco Gauff and Varvara Gracheva will lock horns for the second time
The US Open first-round encounter will be the second meeting between Coco Gauff and Varvara Gracheva. Their previous meeting came in the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, with the American registering a comprehensive 6-1, 6-1 win. Gauff later went on to beat Emma Navarro and Elina Svitolina to win what is so far her only title of 2024.
Gracheva's quarterfinal run at the ASB Classic remains her best performance so far in the current season.
Whoever out of Gauff or Gracheva wins the match, will face either Tatjana Maria or Argentine qualifier Solana Sierra in the second round of the US Open. If the Frenchwoman comes out on top, it will be her first match win at the New York Major since 2021.