Gavrilova on loss: “I ran out of gas”

World No.24 plans to take a break after demoralising three-set loss to Belgian Elise Mertens.

Paris, France, 30 May 2017 | Darren Walton, AAP

Daria Gavrilova was inconsolable after having her French Open dream shattered in a shock first-round defeat at Roland Garros.

Seeded for the first time in Paris after a blistering run on European clay, a gutted Gavrilova said she needed some time out from tennis after her demoralising 7-6(5) 1-6 6-4 loss to world No.60-ranked Belgian Elise Mertens.

“I ran out of gas. Literally,” Gavrilova said after blowing a big lead in the opening set and then fatiguing in the decider.

“I had a really good build-up; a great few weeks and then I played a lot of tennis and just didn’t have legs in the third set.

“I probably should have finished it in two, though.

“Really disappointed because I felt like I could have done something really good here.

“Obviously I thought I could do really well and even make the second week or better than that.”

Runner-up to Sam Stosur in Saturday’s all-Australian WTA title showdown in Strasbourg, Gavrilova felt she may have paid the price for her hot run, after the 22-year-old also stormed to the quarterfinals in Rome two weeks ago.

Gavrilova and Stosur spent Saturday night travelling to Paris on the train and had just Sunday to adjust to the Roland Garros conditions before playing on Monday.

“I probably didn’t have enough recovery,” Gavrilova said.

“I’m probably not going to play tennis for a while.

“I’ll be fine in the next few days, but I haven’t thought about (my schedule).”

Despite her premature exit, the No.24-ranked Gavrilova could still rise to a new career-high ranking after the tournament. And unless Stosur can match her charge to last year’s semifinals, Gavrilova will end Stosur’s unbroken 451-week reign as Australia’s top-ranked women’s player.

But that was little consolation to the former world junior No.1.

“Maybe. Hopefully not,” Gavrilova said of the prospect of dethroning her Fed Cup teammate.

“Hopefully Sam is going to do well.”