Roland-Garros: the beautiful gesture of Bianca Andreescu, who consoles Daphnée Mpetshi Perricard in tears after the 1st qualifying round

Facing a former 4th in the world, victorious in a Grand Slam, the task promised to be tough. But at 17, it’s hard to control your emotions. This Tuesday, Frenchwoman Daphnée Mpetshi Perricard lost in the first round of Roland-Garros qualifying against Canadian Bianca Andreescu. A logical but severe defeat (6-3, 6-2), which saddened the Lyonnaise.

In tears on her bench while her opponent thanked the audience of the Suzanne-Lenglen court for their support, the little sister of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (80th in the world) was able to count on significant support. Visibly upset by the young girl’s distress, Bianca Andreescu first asked the audience to applaud her, before heading towards her to give her a few words of comfort. A beautiful sequence which proves the humanity of the Canadian.

4th in the world in 2019, at only 19 years old, she had a dazzling start to her career, with a coronation at the US Open against Serena Williams, before experiencing a more difficult period. Hit in the knee in 2020, she is struggling to regain her best level and is now only 160th in the world. Going through qualifying was therefore mandatory for this Roland-Garros.

Daphnée Mpetshi Perricard is 811th at 17 years old. 73rd among juniors, quite far behind her compatriot Ksenia Efremova who dominates the under-18 world rankings, the Lyonnaise has already won several matches on the circuit this season, at Lamentin, Petit-Bourg and Reichstett.