Bouchard opens with quick win
Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has advanced to the second round of the Australian Open.
The Westmount native ousted American Louisa Chirico 6-0, 6-4 in 56 minutes.
“I really worked hard in the off-season and really found my motivation,” Bouchard said in an on-court interview. “I think I improved a couple things in my game and I feel very energetic on the court and that helps me play better.
“I just want to keep going. There’s still a long road ahead.”
Bouchard made the semifinals at Melbourne Park in 2014 and followed that up with a semi appearance at the French Open and the final at Wimbledon. But injuries and poor form have since seen her ranking drop out of the top 20.
On Monday, Bouchard won the opening set in 18 minutes and broke Chirico in the third game of the second set before serving to win.
No. 3 seed Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., and German’s Dustin Brown renewed their Grand Slam duel on Tuesday and the result was the same. Raonic and Brown met in the first round of last year’s U.S. Open, where Raonic won in straight sets. On Tuesday, Raonic defeated Brown 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.