Eugenie Bouchard Wins Arthur Ashe Stadium Debut
By Jared Book
One year ago, Eugenie Bouchard being thought of as the next big thing in women’s tennis was a projection. Now, it is a realization.
Sure, there will be bumps in the road for the No. 7 seed at the US Open but to be the headliner of a second round session at the world’s biggest tennis stadium shows you have arrived.
It wasn’t a typical secound round match for Bouchard, who hasn’t had much seem typical since Wimbledon. Her opponent, Sorana Cirstea, while currently No. 80 in the world was in the top-30 as recently as July. She was a finalist at last year’s Rogers Cup but has battled injuries this year.
She took Bouchard to a deciding set and fought hard and provided a good challenge for the Canadian. After a couple of breaks in the first set, Bouchard and Cirstea went to a tie-breaker in the second which Cirstea won.
Aug 28, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) celebrates recording match point in her match against Sorana Cirstea (ROU) on day four of the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
Bouchard got a break in the third set and held her serve for a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 win. She moves on to the third round of the US Open for the first time where she will face off against No. 30 seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
In her career, she has met Zahlavova Strycova twice and has won both matches. Bouchard beat her in the qualifications in Osaka, Japan last year in three sets and this year, on her way to her first career victory in Nurnberg, Bouchard won in straight sets.
The match will take place on Saturday.