By Erik Gudris | Thursday, April 3, 2014

 

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard kept her cool as she overcame a determined Venus Williams in their third round meeting at Charleston.

Photo Credit: Christopher Levy

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard continued her impressive rise this season by reaching the Family Circle Cup quarterfinals in Charleston. But to get there, she had to defeat one of the game's greats.

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Bouchard faced off against former event winner Venus Williams in a highly anticipated third round encounter, their first since a previous meeting in Tokyo last year that went three sets. Bouchard would go up an early break in the first set, but faced steep resistance from Williams, who battled back to 5-all.

Though Bouchard would serve for the set twice, Williams forced a tiebreak on the strength of deep returns. Williams would hold two set points late in the breaker, yet she misfired on both opportunities, allowing Bouchard to finally take it 7-6(6).

Williams rallied in the second set by again forcing the issue with her returns. A rattled Bouchard dropped serve twice, allowing Williams to level the match within 30 minutes.

Williams took hold of an early break lead in the final set but looked weary from the intense battle. Bouchard broke back and, not looking as intimidated by Williams' return game, found herself up 5-4. Down match point in the next game, Williams hit an ill-timed drop shot that Bouchard chased down to set up a winning passing shot that earned her the 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-4 win.

Williams' exit marks the first time since 2009 that no American will be into the singles quarterfinals of the event.

Afterwards, Bouchard talked about the difference between this meeting with Williams and their last, which Williams won.

"To me it's still playing against a great champion, and I respect her and every opponent I play, but I also try to not put them on a pedestal too much," Bouchard said. "But for me it's always an opportunity for me to play someone I've watched on TV when I was younger and someone who's been No. 1 and such a great player. So I always expect great tennis because she's still playing at a great level, and she was at an amazing level. So you never know. I was ready for that. But at the same time, you know, every time I walk on the court, I believe I can win, and I think I believed more this time than probably the last time I played her."

Petkovic Pounces on Lisicki as Bencic Wins Teenage Tussle

In a first time meeting between two fellow Fed Cup teammates, Germany's Andrea Petkovic took on fellow German Sabine Lisicki. The match was no contest though as Petkovic rolled over Lisicki in less than an hour 6-1, 6-0.

Petkovic admitted it was tough playing her friend but was glad for the result.

"I mean after a few games you forget about it, but then I was already kind of rolling and in the zone, and it was difficult for her to regroup, I think. And so it was a difficult match, and it wasn't a pretty one, but I'm kind of happy to get through."

In a battle of rising teenage stars, 17-year-old Belinda Bencic overcame losing the first set tiebreak to 19-year-old Elina Svitolina. Bencic rallied to take the second set and race away with the match 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-1. This is now the first WTA quarterfinal for young Bencic.

Earlier winners on the day included Jana Cepelova, Sara Errani and Daniela Hantuchova.