Eugenie Bouchard came back to the US Open, almost a year after she slipped in a physiotherapist’s room before her fourth round match that eventually forced her to withdraw from that match due a concussion. In the first round, the Canadian had to face a young opponent, 20-year-old, Katerina Siniakova from the Czech Republic. Siniakova defied all the odds and started taking the first set from Bouchard, who has been struggling since her breakout year in 2014. However, the Canadian came back to win the second set but Siniakova took advantage of Bouchard’s mistakes to book a spot into the second round after a three sets win over Eugenie Bouchard, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
An erratic first set from Bouchard gives Siniakova the opening set
The Canadian started with four unforced errors which helped her opponent hold comfortably to take a 1-0 lead. After that erratic start, Bouchard replied with four winners to level things up at one-all. Again the Czech was helped by the mistakes from the Canadian who struggled to figure out the serve of her opponent. In the next game, Bouchard had to endure a lengthy hold as Siniakova faced three break points. Luckily for the Canadian, she managed to shake them off and hold to equalize to 2-2. Despite not being able to break, Siniakova didn’t lose her focus and held to lead 3-2.
For the first time in the match, Bouchard didn’t struggle to close out her service game as she played her best game of the set to hold to love. Siniakova wasn’t stepping down and again held to put pressure on the Canadian who despite the last game was still unable to find the pace. The mistakes carried on and Bouchard did four straight unforced errors to finally yield her serve. Now leading 5-3, and after breaking at the perfect time, the first set was up to Siniakova to grab and the young Czech did it in style as she held to love to take the first set 6-3.
Bouchard breaks to win the second set
A new Bouchard started the second set as she opened it with a solid hold to love. However, Siniakova’s confidence was high and she replied to that hold with another to level things up at 1-1. After holding her serve, Bouchard finally got a break point and the Canadian didn’t hesitate to take it after she blistered a backhand to confirm the break and lead 3-1. While Bouchard was trying to consolidate the advantage she faced a break point who threatened her lead but an error from Siniakova helped her win the game and be up 4-1.
Siniakova held again to keep the gap between them tight, and once again the young Czech put Bouchard under pressure as she forced her to save three break points in the next game. An ace and a backhand unforced error from Siniakova put Bouchard one game away from taking the second set. The Czech didn’t give anything away which meant the set was going to be decided by Bouchard’s serve. One break down inspired Siniakova to get two break points while the Canadian was serving for the set, but Bouchard managed to recover and she hit a serve that Siniakova was not able to return to take the second set 6-3, and force a deciding set.
Siniakova keeps pushing and scores her first US Open victory
After receiving medical treatment on her left foot at the end of the second set, Bouchard seemed to have lost her momentum as she faced seven break points, Siniakova converted her eighth point after Bouchard gifted her a backhand unforced error and the first break of the set to help her lead 2-0. After that tough game where Bouchard broke, she came back to erase that lead from the Czech as she broke immediately followed by a hold to tie things at 2-2. Siniakova didn’t struggle again to hold her serve and be up 3-2.
In the sixth game, Bouchard gave in again after a very erratic game from the Canadian which included a double fault to hand the break. After holding, Siniakova was one game away from her first US Open victory. Bouchard was one break down and needed this hold to stay in the match and attempt a recovery while her opponent served for the match, but that was not necessary as she again had a game full of mistakes. A backhand unforced error from Bouchard gave Siniakova her pass to the second round after a three sets win over the former world number five in two hours and fifteen minutes.
