CiCi Bellis won’t get her consolation prize.
The 15-year old from California lost in three sets to Natalia Vikhlyantseva of Russia, 7-6 (9), 2-6, 6-1 in the second round of the US Open junior girls’ draw on Tuesday, a di𓆏sappointing ending for Bellis, who was the No. 1 seed.
Bellis became America’s tennis sweetheart last week when she beat the No. 12-seeded Dominika Cibulkova in a heart-stopping three-setter in the first round of the main draw. The wild-card entry went on to lose in the seco𒈔nd 🐎round, but won more than a few fans in the process.
With the loss in the junior singles tournament, Bellis is down to chasing the junior girls doubles title with partner Marketa Vondrousova. The top-seeded pair’s first match is scheduled for later Tuesday.
Trailing 5-2 in the first set, Bellis was down 0-40 facing three break points to Vikhlyantseva. She took the next five points to pull it to 5-3 and took the set to a tiebreak, where she hꦓad dropped two set points en route to losing 11-9.
Bellis stormed back to take the second set 6-2, but was ove🍸rwhelmed by Vꩲikhlyantseva in the third.
In the past week, Bellis has seen her social media following skyrocket and her autograph become one of the hot com💞modities on the Flushing Meadows grounds.