TENNIS US OPEN – So far this year, Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard has been mostly struggling at the regular tour events but when she is at a major, she is superb. She is the only player on tour, man or woman, to make it to the semifinal or better at all three majors this year. From New York, Cordell Hackshaw
US Open: All the interviews, results, draws and OoP
So far this year, Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard (7) has been mostly struggling at the regular tour events but when she is at a major, she is superb. She is the only player on tour, man or woman, to make it to the semifinal or better at all three majors this year. Thus it was no surprise that despite a sluggish summer hardcourt run, winning only one match in three events after her first major final appearance at Wimbledon, she was simply stellar in her opening round match at the US Open. Bouchard knocked out Olga Govortsova 6-2 6-1 in just under an hour. “I’m happy … so happy to get a win under my belt. I want to kind of get on a roll and keep the momentum going,” Bouchard said after the match.
Bouchard started the match with an easy service hold and looked to be the more aggressive of the two players on court from the onset. Govortsova tried to keep pace with Bouchard but after saving some early break points, she could not contend with the heavy ground strokes from the Canadian. Bouchard broke for a 4-2 lead and then consolidated at 5-2, forcing Govortsova to serve to stay in the set. However, Bouchard had not intention to serve out the set as she broke Govortsova again to wrap up the set 6-2 in 35 minutes.
Govortsova seemed to like to play at an even pace and patient in her point construction. This is quite the opposite of Bouchard who was quick around the court, pushing the ball side to side and eager to pull the trigger for a winner. “I’m kind of aggressive from the baseline. I try to really take it early and really move up to the ball and try to put pressure on my opponent,” Bouchard said in describing her game. Govortsova was definitely feeling the pressure as she was forced to rush her shots which only resulted in her making more errors. In the 2nd set, Bouchard was swinging even more freely on her shots. She raced out to a 3-0 lead before Govortsova was able to hold serve. Bouchard then put her head down to close out the set 6-1 for a 6-2 6-1 victory in 59 minutes. The Canadian would finish the match with 19 winners to 11 errors. Bouchard will next play Sorana Cirstea who dismantled Heather Watson 6-1 6-1.
