By Chris Oddo | Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Eugenie Bouchard snapped a four-match losing streak by taking down American Alison Riske in straight-sets in Eastbourne.
Photo Source: Julian Finney/Getty
Having lost 10 of 11 matches heading into this week’s Aegon International at Eastbourne, the last thing Eugenie Bouchard could afford was another winless week.
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The world No. 11 can exhale now, after taking down American Alison Riske in two tight sets, 7-6(5), 6-3, to reach the third round. Bouchard saved 8 of 10 break points, including all four she faced in the second set, to earn just her second win since Indian Wells.
Bouchard battled back from 5-4 and 6-5 down to take the first set in a tiebreak. She then secured a break to take a 4-2 lead in the second set and cruised from there.
Will the win put some wind in Bouchard’s sails ahead of Wimbledon, where she’ll have the unenviable task of defending runner-up points next week? At the very least, it won’t deflate them further. Perhaps that is step one for Bouchard–to stop the streak.
"It was a tough battle," Bouchard said, according to WTATennis.com. "She plays good tennis, especially on grass, so I knew to be prepared for a really tough match. I'm happy I was able to stay with her when it was tough in that first set and just fight it out. That's what I want to do in all my matches, just keep fighting no matter what."
She added: "It has been tough. It's definitely been a learning experience. I have had to learn to be patient and understand that there are going to be ups and downs in lives, and in tennis, and keep working and believing in what I do, no matter what, and know there's light at the end of the tunnel.”
Bouchard’s road back will continue in Eastbourne where she’ll face rising star Belinda Bencic in the third round. Bencic, 18, avenged a lopsided loss at Roland Garros to Madison Keys with a decisive 6-2, 6-2 victory over the 12th seed. Keys fired 8 aces but it was Bencic who put on the better serving display on Tuesday afternoon. The Swiss won 29 of 35 first serve points and did not face a break point in the 52-minute encounter.
Bencic’s takedown of Keys wasn’t the only big upset in Eastbourne. Great Britain’s Johanna Konta notched her first career win with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over 4th-seeded Ekaterina Makarova.
The wild card broke serve five times in 12 opportunities and will face Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the third round.
Keep up with all the Eastbourne live scores and results at our lives scores page here