Aussie ends Bouchard’s Wimbledon winning streak
LONDON Eugenie Bouchard’s fourmatch winning streak is over — and so is the Canadian’s run at Wimbledon.
The 24-year-old native of Westmount lost 6-4, 7-5 to No. 17 seed Ashleigh Barty of Australia in the second round of the grass-court major.
Bouchard, won three qualifying matches to get into the main draw after seeing her ranking tumble to No. 188, led 5-2 in the second set against Barty and had one set point, but couldn’t pull it off.
“It was a couple of tough games,” Bouchard said. “I wish maybe at 5-3 I just took a little bit more time and focused on my serve, to maybe try and put some better first serves in. But I was trying to be aggressive and she came up with some good shots, some tricky shots and that was to be expected as well, but I gave everything.”
Later in the day, No. 26 seed Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., was eliminated after dropping a 0-6, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (3) decision to Benoit Paire of France in second-round play.
The result left No. 13 seed Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., as the lone Canadian left in singles play. Raonic was scheduled to face Dennis Novak of Austria in the third round on Friday.
Bouchard converted on just one of her six break-point opportunities, while Barty was good on three of seven.
“I think I played an opponent who is playing really well right now, especially on this surface,” Bouchard said. “I think she has a great game for grass. So I knew I was coming up against something tough and I’m disappointed because I felt like I had chances in both sets and I think played well but I know I can play better.”
While the struggling Bouchard is still trying to find a return to form, which fell off sharply after her breakout 2014 season, she’s taking positives from advancing through qualifying and into the second round at the All England Club.
“I’m proud to be able to get some wins, especially right after the injury,” said Bouchard, who suffered an abdominal strain this year. “Like I said, it’s really hard to come back, so that’s the big thing . ... You can practice all you want, but there’s nothing like real matches, so I’m just grateful to do my job and play.”