Eugenie Bouchard comes through in straight sets at Abierto Zapopan

Eugenie Bouchard looked focus during a rally with Kaja Juvan at the Abierto Zapopan Wednesday. 

Eugenie Bouchard took the match in stride to come through again at the Abierto Zapopan Wednesday. The Canadian limited the errors from her side and won 6-4, 6-3 over Kaja Juvan on Cancha Centrale at the Panamerican Tennis Center in Guadalajara, Mexico. 

It was the second win this season for the former world number five and a better place to build upon the recent success. It was another first time meet for the Canadian and her Slovenian opponent in what the 27-year-old hoped would be another victory for her benefit. Bouchard went three sets quickly with Caroline Dolehide, holding together when it mattered to be in this position. Juvan won her opening round match against Aliona Bolsova in straight sets, despite going to the brink of each of them. The eighth seed’s best output from her previous win was losing just once in 12 service games. 

Juvan double-faulted on the first point and erred, giving Bouchard breakpoint chances. The Slovenian tried to make a comeback for deuce, but it wasn’t to be for the 20-year-old. The Canadian performed well but saw Juvan make a stab at forcing deuce. The Montreal native fired an ace to bring up an AD point, which the eighth seed clinched for her on a long return. Unwilling to give Bouchard the double break, Juvan held together in the third and went for it on a jump in score before the Canadian hit it into the net. 

With a break back in hand, the Slovenian attempted to back things up with a service hold but missed on a great opportunity setting up deuce. She managed to get it on a break of deuce with Bouchard hitting it long. The Canadian scored another service game that leveled her back with Juvan as they reached the halfway point of the set. 

The two kept up with the brisk pace and holds of serve until the ninth when Bouchard caught a break on Juvan committing three double faults. Bouchard made a mistake early with a double-fault but recovered to finish her service with a hold, taking the first in 38 minutes. The Canadian won 73 percent from her first serve and edged Juvan on the better second serve. 

Showing her opponent her fighting spirit, Bouchard forced deuce, playing seven minutes while denying Juvan the AD point. It took her four attempts and saving a second breakpoint that put her in front. Bouchard answered with a hold of serve, earning it on the 20-year-old’s return error. Juvan threw down a serve to love, showing that she had some good quality tennis from her end. 

Unfortunately, her efforts were quieted by the Canadian who answered to level the score and broke Juvan to love in the fifth. Bouchard backed up the two wins with another on the serve, scoring service to love against the Slovenian who was running out of chances to counter. Her game struck big in the seventh, nearly getting her second shutout of Bouchard. Despite giving up a point, she cut into the lead, sitting one down of the Canadian. 

The 27-year-old didn’t let the Slovenian’s fight back bother her, and put together a solid service game to play for the match. Juvan had some free points early in the ninth, but errors from her side got Bouchard back in it. She took the lead and won a spot in the quarterfinals with a touch from the 20-year-old ending things in 1 hour and 17 minutes.