Aussie star's heartbreak behind beautiful moment at French Open
Amid the heartbreak of Daria Gavrilova’s injury retirement at the French Open, opponent Aleksandra Krunić produced a beautiful act of sportsmanship.
Gavrilova, whose thigh was heavily strapped, was forced to retire while trailing in the second set 6-3 2-2.
The young Aussie was clearly shattered at having to call it quits at a grand slam, and childhood friend Krunic noticed.
The Serbian came over to Gavrilova’s chair at the end of the match, sitting next to her opponent and putting a comforting arm around her.
Aww. Krunic has gone over to console Dasha. 🤗 pic.twitter.com/gJSavXMhZ3
— Steven Mills (@StevenMtennis) May 28, 2019
The sweet moment was praised by fans on social media.
Nice to see Aleksandra Krunić comforting Daria Gavrilova on her bench after the Aussie retired down a set. Circumstances notwithstanding, this is a good win for Krunić, who's had a string of first-round losses this year. Tsurenko next. #RG2019 https://t.co/spJ25KqnVC
— Ana Mitrić (@ana_mitric) May 28, 2019
Krunic tröstar Gavrilova som gråter för att hon tvingas bryta pga skada. pic.twitter.com/cmgGEpeW9A
— TennisPunter (@tennispunter123) May 28, 2019
Gavrilova appeared to be in tears as she struggled to move late in the match.
Krunic showed no mercy as she continually drop-shotted the Aussie.
Match resumes. Krunic successfully drop-shotted Gavrilova three times in the last game and she almost burst into tears at the end of it.
— Steven Mills (@StevenMtennis) May 28, 2019
I must be sadistic because i enjoyed Krunic dropshotting an injured Gavrilova to death😬
— ' (@mayuhayu9) May 28, 2019
Not all doom and gloom
Young Aussies Jordan Thompson and Priscilla Hon helped Australia to their equal-best French Open start since 1990.
Thompson beat lucky loser Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on a windswept Tuesday, dodging Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime (groin) after his late withdrawal.
Davidovich Fokina boasted the recent scalp of Gael Monfils but the Australian dominated 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to join Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin in the next round.
Wildcard Hon joins Samantha Stosur and Ashleigh Barty in the second round after a 3-6 6-2 6-1 comeback win over Timea Babos - her first in the Roland Garros main draw.
Only a dogged fightback from defending champion Simona Halep stopped Ajla Tomljanovic from being one of seven Australians through.
The size of the country's second round contingent instead equals the six of 2015.
Earlier, Bernard Tomic bombed out in just 82 minutes to hand American Taylor Fritz his most dominant grand slam victory.
Denying that he wasn't giving his best effort, Tomic said he agreed with compatriot Nick Kyrgios's assessment last week that the French Open "sucked" but added that the tournament was just "not for me".
On centre court John Millman was barely into the second set of his titanic battle with Alexander Zverev when Tomic was talking to media.
Like Tomic he will receive about $75,000 for his first round exit, despite toiling for more than four hours as he fought back from two sets behind the fifth-seeded German only to fall in a quality five-setter.
HOW THE AUSSIES FARED ON DAY THREE (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):
* Taylor Fritz (USA) d Bernard Tomic 6-1 6-4 6-1
* 5-Alexander Zverev (GER) d John Millman 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 2-6 6-7 (7-5) 6-3
* Jordan Thompson d Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-3)
* Priscilla Hon d Timea Babos (HUN) 3-6 6-2 6-1
* Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) d Daria Gavrilova 6-3 2-2 (ret)
* Gregoire Barrerre (FRA) d Matt Ebden 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-1
* 3-Simona Halep (ROU) d Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2 3-6 6-1
AUSSIES IN ACTION ON DAY FOUR
* 21-Alex de Minaur v Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
* Alexei Popyrin v 31-Laslo Djere (SRB).
with AAP