Apart from talent, hard work, and dedication, luck plays an important role in sports too. At times, it may even be the deciding factor between a win and a loss. For 20-year-old Ukrainian, Katarina Zavatska, lady luck did not grace her at all. She lost her opening match at the 2020 French open to 5th seed Kiki Bertens.

The Suzanne Lenglen court played host to the match. The game crawled into the deciding set after both the players claimed a set each. Tragedy struck Zavatska as she ran out of racquets due to broken strings.

Even though her coach had handed her his personal racquet, she lost the deciding set without claiming a game. Devastated and dejected, Zavatska left the court with a heavy heart.

“Slightly bizarre and unfortunate scenes on Lenglen. Katarina Zavatska, who was playing a really good match against Kiki Bertens, broke numerous strings and ran out of racquets. Her coach then seemed to give her one of his (Babolat not Yonex). She lost the decider 6-0,” the tweet read.

She appeared to suffer an emotional breakdown by the interruption of fate. Mentally devastated, she lost the will to fight and was far away from her usual self in the deciding set.

“Zavatska is in tears as all her racquets have their strings broken”, the tweet shows.

Kiki Bertens struggled in the first round match in the French Open 2020

Katarina Zavatska was clearly not the favorite to win the tie against Kiki Bertens. Not many truly expected her to make life difficult for Bertens, let alone defeat her. Proving everyone wrong, Katarina took the lead by claiming the first set 6 games to 2.

The loss of the first set forced Kiki to step up her game. She returned to her usual self in the second set to claim it 6-2. Lady luck was riding on Kiki’s side. The third set was a complete demolition from Kiki as she took the set without letting her opponent claim a game.

Trending

Carlos Alcaraz Injury: Mutua Madrid Open Plans Delayed Further as the Spaniard’s Title Defense Gets Trickier

April 20, 2024 09:00 PM EDT

‘RIP’ – Heartbroken Brother of John McEnroe Mourns ESPN Legend’s Tragic Death Who Last Tweeted About Coco Gauff

April 21, 2024 02:43 PM EDT

Laureus Awards 2024: How and Where Can Fans Watch the Likes of Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, and Others Gracing the Event

April 22, 2024 05:54 AM EDT

After Alexander Zverev’s Outburst, Tennis Fans Bash ‘Unplayable’ Munich Conditions as Felix Auger-Aliassime Turns Second Victim

April 20, 2024 11:01 AM EDT

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Girlfriend Paula Badosa Provides Saddening Health Update After Being Forced To Retire Against Aryna Sabalenka

April 19, 2024 03:58 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us