Eugenie Bouchard rallies late to win at the French Open

Eugenie Bouchard clenched her fist during her first-round match at the French Open Sunday. 

Eugenie Bouchard had another successful match to be proud of at the French Open Sunday night. The Canadian kept her serve in check and powered her way through Anna Kalinskaya to win 6-4, 6-4 on Court Seven at Roland Garros. 

The two met for the first time in what would be a clash of getting to move forward in the French capital. Despite the time of year, the tournament is to be played, Bouchard and Kalinskaya have experience of adapting and would make their opening an important one. The Russian was in the main draw for the first time while the Canadian in her seventh appearance looked to take her game to the next level. Her run at Istanbul was a statement of terrific improvement despite losing the chance for a title. With her making it to the semifinal back in 2014, the 26-year-old would push to return to that feat again no matter the stakes. 

A hold to love was a great way for the Canadian to come out swinging against Kalinskaya who fell behind in the second but managed to hold. They remained on serve through four, until a threat in the fifth for Bouchard went to deuce. The Canadian blew her chance for the AD point and watched as the Russian took the lead away. 

Bouchard leveled at three-all with a break back but foiled another service that gave Kalinskaya a 4-3 lead. Bouchard broke back for a 4-4 score and held the all-important ninth that let her play for the set. Much like the way she started the match, Bouchard shutout Kalinskaya in the tenth for the break and the set that took her 42 minutes. The Canadian’s overall service game was producing well as she battled the Russian but held well when the ball was in her hand. 

As the second set opened, Bouchard pulled off another shutout of Kalinskaya marking her fourth of the match. The Russian held the second and then broke Bouchard in the third for the lead. The 26-year old broke back to remain in lock with Kalinskaya which remained that way through six games. It was a battle of reactions as each had the energy to run after the next shot played. They broke one another again to make it four-all with Bouchard looking for the hold as she inched towards the potential win. 

She held the ninth and played for the match against the Russian who was under pressure. Bouchard got on the board with a great lob return that Kalinskaya couldn’t reach in time. An error from the 21-year-old followed by her tenth double fault handed the Canadian match point. A three-shot rally saw Kalinskaya hit one a little too much ending her night and tournament in 1 hour and 21 minutes.