Overview
- Oleksandra Oliynykova beat Kim Birrell 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (10-5) on Thursday in a match decided by a 10-point final-set tiebreak.
- Two days earlier Birrell scored the biggest win of her career by beating world No.5 Jessica Pegula at Roland Garros.
- Birrell finished the match with 11 double faults and 43 unforced errors, and two double faults in the tiebreak proved costly to her chances.
- Oliynykova used an unorthodox, rhythm-breaking game — moon balls, slices and an underarm serve on match point — and celebrated with her father who is on leave from the Ukrainian army.
- Birrell’s run drew on personal resilience and local support in Paris where she stays with family friends, a factor she credited for her breakthrough and that will shape her preparations going forward.