Underarm Serve Seals 7-6 Win for Oleksandra Oliynykova — Kim Birrell Vs Oleksandra Oliynykova

Oleksandra Oliynykova ended kim birrell vs oleksandra oliynykova with an underarm serve on match point, closing out a 6-3, 0-6, 7-6(10-5) win in more than two hours at the French Open. Birrell’s run ended in the second round after a match that swung sharply in all three sets.

Birrell’s momentum slipped late

Birrell had looked in control after working out Oliynykova’s style in the first set and taking charge from the net, but the Ukrainian regained her composure in the third. Oliynykova broke early for a 2-0 lead, Birrell broke back, and the set stayed on serve until the match tiebreaker.

That breaker turned on the smallest margins. Birrell fell behind 5-1, clawed back to 5-5, then was left under pressure after her 11th double fault before Oliynykova finished it with the unusual underarm-serve start to the final rally.

Pegula win set the context

The loss ended Birrell’s French Open campaign just days after she had beaten American No.5 Jessica Pegula in the best win of her career. She had been aiming to match her best Grand Slam result, which came when she reached the third round at the Australian Open in 2019.

After the match, Birrell said she was disappointed and described tennis as “quite a roller coaster sometimes... you can have one of the best days of your life, followed by all the tougher, tougher days,” adding that she was still proud of the way she fought. She also said Oliynykova’s ability to change pace and then attack the next ball surprised her.

For Birrell, the immediate takeaway is simple: a career-best win was followed by a three-set loss that stopped her at the French Open’s second round. For Oliynykova, the result came from patience, variety and a final-point decision that left no room for a late escape.