Eugenie Bouchard meant business when she arrived on stadium court to face qualifier Annika Beck for their first meeting at the main draw level. The players had met once before in the 2014 qualifiers draw at Dubai Championships; Beck captured the win in straights sets.

Today, however, the Canadian was unstoppable. She served three aces, earned 79 percent of her first service points and 70 percent of her second service, and she saved all five of the break points that she faced. Beck, on the other hand, was unable to match the wild card’s pace; she won just 48% of her service points and secured a disappointing 24% of the points on Bouchard’s serve. Fifty-nine minutes later, the Canadian had secured her spot in the second round.

Beck hits a backhand during her match at the Western and Southern Open
Getty Images Sport | Joe Robbins

Bouchard establishes early lead

Despite facing five break points in the first set, Bouchard played with an unbeatable tenacity. Rallies were played at her pace; she pounded cross-courts and straight shots over the net, running the German from side-to-side until a short attackable shot was returned to her. The set continued in this fashion, with Beck on the defense, and very much pinned to the back of the court. Bouchard experienced a short setback when she went down 0-40 at 3-1, but was able to fight through five deuce points to win the game.

Bouchard spoke to VAVEL about this pivotal moment and cited it as being one of the key points in the match.

I think that was an important game because the score difference between 3-2 and 4-1 is pretty big and even though I was down 0-40 I was serving I just told myself to keep fighting on every point, and I still believed I had a chance to win that game. That’s always going to be a goal for me. Being there at every single point no matter what.”

The unforced errors that Beck committed during the grueling rallies did not help her to compete in the set that was already slipping out of her reach. Ultimately, it was a calm and comfortable Bouchard who raced to a 6-2 lead.

Beck and Bouchard shake hands following their match Getty Images Sport | Adam Glanzman
Beck and Bouchard shake hands following their match Getty Images Sport | Adam Glanzman

Bouchard maintains control

All attention was on the world #40 at the start of the second set. As she continued to apply pressure, opening up the court by hitting her shots out wide, more unforced errors began to flow off of the qualifier’s racquet.

“From the start, I felt like I was hitting my shots well. I felt like I was using the court well. She stands a little bit further back so I was trying to do some angles and some of them she had trouble getting to so I was kind of opening up the court a bit. I think that tactic worked,” Bouchard noted.

The Canadian dropped just three games on her way to a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

“Today out there even if the score was going my way I was still fighting on every point. It was still a tough match. I just happened to win those tough games, and the score ended up looking easy. But it’s never easy,” she reflected.

Next round

Two-time defending champion Petra Kvitova is a potential second round opponent.

“She has a big game, she has really big weapons and that’s what I found every time I played against her, that it’s difficult to counter those shots to then try to take advantage of the point which is how I like to play. A lot of times when I’ve played her I’ve found myself on my back foot.”

Whether she plays Kvitova or Louisa Chirico next, Bouchard seems to have a solid game plan: one that should take her far in this event.

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About the author
Haley Hunt
An avid athlete, tennis fan, and writer, Haley loves to share her passion for the sport with others! She also covers daily updates of the players on her Instagram page, @wta__atp.