Colombia takes advantage against France after Gracheva defeat in BJK Cup

Colombia took the advantage in the BJK Cup play-off on Sunday, with the second victory of its No.1 Camilia Osario, ahead of Varvara Gracheva (6-2, 7-5) who replaced Diane Parry at short notice, injured on Saturday. Colombia leads 2-1 before the fourth singles which Clara Burel must absolutely win, beaten on Saturday by the same Rosario (6-4, 7-5), to hope to save France's place in the elite of the BJK Cup. The losing country will play in the lower division of the former Fed Cup.

Clara Burel (74th) faces Emiliana Arango (180th), whom Diane Parry (50th) beat on Saturday (6-2, 6-4), a match during which the French N.1 injured her left knee. Reduced, she preferred to give her place to Varvara Gracheva (66th). In a tense and decisive third single, the two players experienced the worst difficulties on their serve at the start of the match. Camilia Osario (63rd) finally managed to confirm her break in the sixth game (4-2) to fly away in this first set (6-2), Varvara Gracheva showing difficulty holding the exchanges on the clay of Sopo, at an altitude of 2,600 meters in the suburbs of Bogota.

The Frenchwoman finally managed to win her throw at the start of the second set and responded to the aggressiveness of the Colombian who alternated blows, varying her play during the exchange. She was broken again in the seventh game, after having led 40-0, but immediately responded with a shutout (4-4).

Constantly in difficulty with her faceoff (no ace), Gracheva allowed Osario to serve for the match. Condemned to attack, the Frenchwoman saw two forehands remain in the net but saved a first match point with a backhand acceleration on the line. She finally decided on her second opportunity. But she lost her serve once again, at 30-40 her easy match went out of bounds. Camilia Osario was not going to let this second chance pass and finally won 7 games to 5, recovering two break points.