The Canadian is into her first hardcourt final in five years after beating her Italian opponent in straight sets.
Eugenie Bouchard is into her first WTA hardcourt final since 2016 after beating the world number 134 Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets 6-2,7-6, she hit 18 winners in the win while the Italian hit 24 unforced errors.
“She’s a very tough player, she plays aggressively and takes the ball early so she’s always coming at you so I had to be ready for that, kinda try to stay with her and when I have a chance go for it but she was so tough so I’m proud of myself for kinda regrouping there at the end and still committing to playing my game no matter if she was playing well so it was important for me to keep doing what I do”.
Both players started on the right foot holding their opening services games and that’s when the world number 144 went on the offensive earning two early break points and eventually breaking to take an early 2-1 lead.
After consolidating the break she had a chance to go up a double break but the Italian did a good job saving it and holding serve. At the changeover at 3-2 Cocciaretto called for the trainer and took a medical timeout for her knee which already had been wrapped around her thigh.
At 4-2, it seems the nagging injury was hampering the Italian and she found herself down another two breakpoints and the Westmount native would jump on the opportunity to break and serve out the first set to take it 6-2 with a big serve.
The second set was a much closer affair and it was the world number 134 with the first break opportunity of the set when she had three chances to break but the Canadian held her ground and saved all three playing some great tennis.
The world number 144 had her first chance to get a break the following game but it was the Italians turn to save it with a great backhand down the line and held serve.
The very next game the Westmount native had another chance to break and she finally made good on it breaking to take a 3-2 lead and was now up a set and break and in full cruise control.
The Italian was going to go down without a fight and had a chance to break back to go back on serve the next game but the Canadian would come up with a huge forehand to save another breakpoint.
At 5-4 Bouchard would serve for the match and even reach match point but again the Italian was determined to do everything to stay in the match and had two chances to break and did just that going back on serve at 5-5.
The Canadian was incensed and mentioned during her post match press conference she used that anger to force a tiebreaker and that’s where she went back to taking over the match.
She would win the breaker 7-2 finishing the match strongly and booking her spot in her first hardcourt final since 2016.
After the match in an on court interview she spoke about the fact how happy she was to make the trip to Mexico and have such instant success.
“Ya it’s my first time here but I feel right at home, everything has been great this week and I’m so grateful to get some matches and to play in front of people who love Tennis”.
She also added what it meant for her to reach the final her first on hardcourt since 2016.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, I’m super excited, I just want to play a good match tomorrow and enjoy the last couple days here”
The Canadian will now face Sara Sorribes Tormo in the final after the Spaniard knocked out the second seed Marie Bouzkova 6-3 7-6(3).
