The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bouchard needs one more victory
Eugenie Bouchard moved to within one win of the main Wimbledon draw after battling past Karolina Muchova 6-2 2-6 6-3 in the second round of qualifying at Roehampton.
Canadian Bouchard was Wimbledon junior champion in 2012 and runner-up in the women’s singles two years later as she broke into the world’s top five.
However, after plummeting down the rankings to 191st, Bouchard missed out on a wild-card for this year’s event at the All England Club.
It looked like the 24-year-old was on course for a comfortable victory after taking the opening set in her secondround qualifying match at the Bank of England Sports Centre.
Czech 21-year-old Muchova then levelled to put the outcome in the balance, before Bouchard’s experience saw her through on a first match-point.
Bouchard will next face the qualifying tournament’s second seed Mariana Duque-Marino after the Colombian world number 97 defeated Richel Hogenkamp 6-4 6-1.
“I didn’t feel like I was playing all that well, so I am just happy I was able to keep myself collected in the third (set) and find a way,” Bouchard told BBC Sport following her match.
“I would be proud of myself for going through the (qualifying) matches. I have a match tomorrow, that is all I am worried about right now.”
Elsewhere in yesterday’s secondround matches, 2010 Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva progressed with a 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 win over Sabina Sharipova of Uzbekistan.
The 33-year-old Russian will next face American teenager Caroline Dolehide for a place in the main draw.
Today Britain’s James Ward will play France’s Benjamin Bonzi as he also aims to make it through to the All England Club next week.