Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina, seeded ninth, produced a remarkable shot during her impressive 6-3, 6-4 victory over former finalist Marketa Vondrousova, securing her spot in the third round of the French Open on Wednesday.
Facing pressure from Vondrousova at 2-3 down in the second set, with the score at 30-30, Kasatkina seemed on the verge of facing a breakpoint as she hustled to retrieve a superb lob volley by her opponent. However, the 26-year-old showcased her creativity with an extraordinary between-the-legs shot that left Vondrousova stunned as the ball whizzed past her at the net.
Kasatkina held her serve after the spectacular shot, sealing the game with a forehand winner. Vondrousova, who reached the French Open final in 2019, where she was defeated by Ash Barty, continued to fight and had an opportunity to lead 5-3 before Kasatkina rallied back to win the last three games of the match.
Last year, Kasatkina reached the semifinals at Roland Garros, losing to eventual champion Iga Swiatek. Known for her inventiveness on the court, she is preparing for another deep run in the tournament.
When asked about her impressive 'tweener' shot during an on-court interview, Kasatkina attributed it to years of practice. "When I was a kid, I used to practice this shot against the wall at home, hitting the wall, lobbing myself, and playing the tweener all the time," she explained. "Maybe two hours a day, so it's not luck. I practiced this shot a lot, and finally, it paid off."
In the next round, Kasatkina is set to face the 69th-ranked American player Peyton Stearns as she continues her campaign at the French Open.
(With inputs from Reuters)
