Eugenie Bouchard started her Mallorca Open campaign with a win over Danka Kovinic. After a disappointing first round loss last week at the Ricoh Open, the former Wimbledon finalist was looking to win her first match on grass. The Canadian only needed an hour and 24 minutes to book her spot in the second round.
Bouchard too strong for Kovinic
Bouchard opened the match with a solid hold of serve. Kovinic didn’t run with the same luck as she had a very erratic in her first service game, Bouchard got the break to love and the early lead at 2-0. In the third game, Bouchard had to really fight to hold her serve as Kovinic made an attempt to recover the break, however, the Canadian held to now lead 3-0. After a rough start, Kovinic redeemed herself holding to love to get on the scoreboard. The Canadian continued playing great tennis and did the same thing with an easy hold to love.
Still a break down, Kovinic knew how important was to hold her serve if she wanted another chance to break Bouchard and get back in the set. The serve of the Montenegrin was in danger when Bouchard managed to get four break points all of them which she failed to convert and extend her lead. The Canadian held her serve to be one game away from taking the opening set. Kovinic did the same, but being a break down put her in a bad situation as now was up to Bouchard to serve out the set. Four unforced errors from Kovinic gifted the set to Bouchard 6-3.
Kovinic breaks but drops level to let Bouchard come back
After losing the first set, Kovinic was determined to start the second one with a hold and so she did. The tables turned when Bouchard was not able to win her first service game of the set as the Montenegrin step up her game and began moving better to outplay Bouchard. The Canadian didn’t drop her level, but Kovinic was playing much better than it the first set and this showed in the third game. The Montenegrin needed this hold to confirm the break and after a long game, she converted leading 3-0.
Losing that game didn’t seem to affect Bouchard as she went on to win her service game at love. In the next game, Bouchard had three chances to recover the break as she had two break points, but Kovinic saved them all. Bouchard would have another break opportunity but she wasted it after hitting a long backhand. The Canadian had to hold to remain close to her opponent and she did, although she was still down a break 2-4. Kovinic held without complications and was one game away from forcing this to a third. Again, Bouchard held her serve.
It was now Kovinic who needed to close the second set with her serve, but too many unforced errors gave Bouchard the break she needed to be back in the set. Then the eighth seed holds comfortably to level things at 5-5. After having been played great for most of the set, Kovinic gave in to the unforced errors and handed another break to Bouchard who after being a break down now was about to serve for the match. The Canadian didn’t show a sign of nerves as she closed it with an ace.
Next for Bouchard
In the second round, Eugenie Bouchard will have to face Anastasija Sevastova. This will be the second meeting between them, their only match happened this year at Doha where Bouchard prevailed, however, Sevastova caused her enough problems and forced her to play three tough sets.