Francesca Schiavone was down 0-6, 0-2 in her first-round match with world No. 1 Serena Williams at the U.S. Open. The Italian had won just 25% of her first-serve points, had recently been on the losing end of a fantastic 26-point rally and had become such a sympathetic figure that the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium resorted to giving her sympathy cheers. With all that going against you, sometimes a girl just needs a hug.

When you’re getting beat that bad, a little humor is always good for the soul.

After the match, Schiavone was asked about the impromptu hug. “I don’t need a hug in that moment, I need a game — points,” she said. “I went to the ballboy to say, ‘Well, that’s tough.’ No, it was just a joke.”

The loss surely won’t stay with Schiavone long. The 33-year-old has struggled when not on her favored surface of clay this year, but when she returns home to Milan, she can take some comfort in that 2010 French Open trophy on her mantle.

As a bonus, Schiavone managed to avoid the dreaded double bagel, holding serve for the first time at 0-4 in the second.