By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, June 3, 2014

 

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard confirmed her status as one of the sport's rising stars by reaching her first ever French Open semifinal.

Photo Credit: Peter Staples

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard punched her ticket into yet another Grand Slam semifinal - this time at the French Open.

French Open - Sharapova Returns to Semis

Bouchard faced off against Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro in Tuesday's quarterfinals. With both players having won lead up clay court events prior to Paris, the expectation was high that a close contest would result.

Suarez Navarro took advantage of early unforced errors from Bouchard in the opening set. But despite holding a 5-2 lead, Suarez Navarro failed to serve out the set on two occasions. Bouchard would level the set at 5-all and ultimately a tiebreak was needed.

Bouchard, showing more aggression in the key moments, soon clinched the set 7-6(5).

Going up an early break in the second set, Suarez Navarro would not let go of her lead so easily. On set point, Suarez Navarro knocked off a forehand winner to take the set 6-2.

Momentum shifts occurred on several occasions in the final set. Suarez Navarro, proving steadier in the rallies, opened up a 4-1 lead. Bouchard responded by winning 10 points in a row to even things at 4-all. A fine forehand pass would give Suarez Navarro a 5-4 lead.

Yet Bouchard calmly held serve in the next game for 5-all. Bouchard's backhand proved the better of the two in the final games.

Taking bigger cuts on the ball, Bouchard struck a deep backhand that yielded her a break for 6-5. Despite losing out on two earlier match points, Bouchard made good on the third with a deep forehand that forced a final error from Suarez Navarro.

With that, Bouchard clinched the 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5 win.

Paris is now the second straight Grand Slam semifinal for Bouchard this season who earlier reached the final four in Melbourne back in January.

Next for Bouchard will be a player she admited growing up in Maria Sharapova. But Bouchard is ready for the challenge.

"For sure I respect her. But now, you know, we're in the semis of a Grand Slam, so I'm going to respect her but not put her too high on a pedestal and really just battle. That's what it's going to be," Bouchard said on Sharapova. "I will leave everything on court and just focus on myself and try my best to win.