Shelby Rogers earned a big victory to begin the new year. Her powerful strength and finish to the first round of the Brisbane International gave her the 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 win over Eugenie Bouchard at Pat Rafter Arena Sunday afternoon. It was her third win in a row over the Canadian and a good start to advance to the round of 16
This was the first time in three years that the American and Canadian faced each other. Rogers carried a two-match winning streak against Bouchard but like new year’s, they bring something positive for both players. Bouchard wanted one after ending 2016 with a three-match losing streak that took her out of the tournament in Quebec. In her northern Australia debut, the 22-year-old had every opportunity to make her first match of 2017 a good one.
She got into a tick battle for control to start the opening game of the match. Rogers who was on the serve defended her end forcing deuce with the Canadian. After five long breaks, the American managed to hold on, creating key momentum that carried on. It was then that she took a 4-0 rout of Bouchard beating her opponent on the breaks. A final chance arrived for Bouchard who broke Rogers in the fifth to get into the set but still had plenty of work ahead of her.
During the break, the 22-year-old took a talk from new coach Thomas Högstedt on how to go about counteracting the movements on Rogers. She served up in the sixth game ending it with a strong hold of serve cutting the American’s lead in half. Rogers made good on her serve in the seventh handling the returns on the rallies to frustrate Bouchard. The Canadian served to stay in the set but shot the ball too hard at times. She was down 0-30 before Rogers did the same to get her on the board. It wasn’t enough to help her out as the American pounced on set point locking down the lead in 38 minutes.
The second began on an even keel as both ladies held their service of the ball with Bouchard receiving high praise from the fans after winning game point in the second. She took control of the set taking a 3-1 hold with the ball back Rogers’ hands. She gained an important hold in the fifth fighting off Bouchard from breaking to force deuce. After three breaks, Rogers smashed a shot that gave her a second win in the set gaining back the momentum.
Bouchard put a stop to it in the sixth with a quick service hold as her mission to level the match was top priority. She had her eye on in the seventh breaking with expertise that now had Rogers fighting to stay alive in the set. Bouchard had to earn her set point playing on deuce but after couple breaks, she got the job done completing the second set in 37 minutes sending the match to its distance. Improvements to the Canadians first serve were clear as was her second service scoring more shots in the court. Rogers received the same new from her coach who came to keep her at a good level urging her to play strong going into the final set.
The heat rule came into effect allowing the players time off court in order to rehydrate themselves before continuing. When they returned, Bouchard took point opening the score to begin the set but couldn’t hang on to lead. After three games, it was Rogers who had a 2-1 hold hoping to break the Canadian on serve in the fourth. They went to deuce where Rogers took advantage of a mistake on play to open the gap further.
The margin became too much for Bouchard who suddenly found herself down 5-1 with Rogers on the ball to serve the match. She nearly had a lock on the key point but watched her shot go long to play deuce. After quickly gaining the advantage she fired a winner on court that completed the victory over the fifth seed ending the match in 1 hour and 54 minutes.
While her rush to victory ended in success, the downfall for Bouchard was the numerous unforced errors and long balls that cost her the match. While she’ll attempt to prepare for the next tournament, Rogers will take certain steps when she’ll face the winner between Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig from Puerto Rico and Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.
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