Canadian number tsix seed Eugenie Bouchard fought off the challenge of big hitting Brit Naomi Broady by winning 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the final of the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. Bouchard is into her second final of the season where she will face Ukrainian number two seed Elina Svitolina

Bouchard Edges Out Close First Set

Bouchard put immediate pressure on the Broady serve, breaking the Brit in the opening game of the match to go up 1-0. The Canadian then consolidated the break before each player held once. At 3-1, Broady fended off two break points in a lengthy deuce game to hold for 3-2, keeping the gap at only one break. The former Wimbledon finalist then held for 4-2, before the Brit again fought off break points, this time three, to hold for 4-3. Each player then held once to bring the set to 5-4, putting the pressure on the Canadian to serve it out. Bouchard made no mistake, serving the set out easily to take it 6-4. 

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Bouchard Seals The Deal In Second

The second set began with both players holding serve twice each to bring the score to 2-2. In the fifth game of the match, the former Wimbledon finalist broke Broady to go up 3-2. Bouchard consolidated the break with an easy hold, before the Brit held to keep the margin to only one break. At 4-3, Bouchard fended off three break points, putting herself a game away from a spot in the final. The Canadian broke again, taking the set and the match to advance to her second final of the year, with her first coming earlier this year in Hobart.

Bouchard Discusses The Win

"My game is always pretty aggressive, but I couldn't exactly attack her first serve," Bouchard said after the match. "She's an amazing server and was serving pretty fast, she's also very accurate with her serve. I was just trying to get the first serve back in the court." 

Bouchard talked about her hard work on the practice courts this season as the reason for her early success in 2016. 

"I got here early for the tournament and I was working really hard in practice just trying to improve different areas of my game," said the Canadian. "I feel like I've improved already since last week and for me that's just my goal right now - to improve every single week." 

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Bouchard Behind The Numbers

Bouchard served pretty well to combat the huge serving of her British opponent. The Canadian won 83% of first serve points and won 67% of second serve points. Bouchard also fought off break points well, winning all three times she faces break chances in the match, a key stat in her victory over the Brit. 

Up Next For Bouchard

In the final of the 2016 Malaysian Open, Bouchard will face fellow youngster Elina Svitolina. Svitolina and Bouchard faced off in the 2012 Wimbledon Girls' Singles final, where the Canadian claimed her first junior Grand Slam title. In the pros though, it is the Ukranian holding the head to head advantage, winning all three times the pair have met. In 2013 in Indian Wells and 2014 in Miami, Svitolina won in straight sets, while last year in Cincinnati, the Ukranian gained a straight sets win. The Canadian will be looking for only her second career title, while Svitolina will be looking for her fourth.

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About the author
Thomas Cluck
Thomas Cluck is an avid tennis fan who loves to share his passion for the sport through writing. Thomas is from Dallas, TX, and is an tennis agent and PR person. Thomas has been watching tennis for many years and covers the sport daily on his Instagram page @atpwta_tennis.