QUEBEC CITY, September 15, 2016
A semi-finalist at the WTA National Bank Cup presented by Mazda in 2013, Eugenie Bouchard (Montreal, QC), began her 2016 Quebec campaign with a 6-3, 6-4 win on Wednesday night against Mandy Minella of Luxembourg.
Bouchard did not disappoint the sold out crowd at PEPS as she jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the opening set and never looked back en route to a straight sets victory in under 90 minutes.
“It’s always so nice to win in front of a crowd that’s buzzing like that,” Bouchard said of the strong support from the home fans.
“It was awesome. The stadium was full tonight and I really felt the fans support when they scream out. It does make a difference, when things aren’t going so well. It motivates me.
“I really felt like I didn’t play near my best,” Bouchard assessed. “But these are the matches that are important to fight through and find solutions to win. At least I did that today.”
Bouchard will next take on Alla Kudryavtseva from Russia on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, three US-Americans booked their spots in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Julia Boserup upset seventh-seeded Russian Evgeniya Rodina 6-3, 6-3 while 17-year-old Catherine Bellis, who made the decision to turn pro on Tuesday, went the distance against qualifier Danielle Lao before coming away with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win.
“I knew Danielle was playing well – I mean, she passed qualies and beat someone really good in the first round,” Bellis said after the match. “I knew it was going to be a tough one, I’m just glad I got through.”
About turning pro she added: “I feel really confident after my summer of WTA tournaments and then the US Open,” Bellis explained. “I think it was time. It was an easy decision to make – I’m was very excited about it.”
Lauren Davis completed the US-American trio in the final eight thanks to a 6-4, 6-1 win over her compatriot Samantha Crawford in the second round.
In doubles, Françoise Abanda (Montreal, QC) and her partner Elena Bovina were defeated 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-5 in round two.
Wednesday’s evening session featuring Bouchard and Abanda attracted a crowd of 2,864 spectators, which marks only the second time that the PEPS has been sold out. The first sellout came in April of this year for a Harlem Globetrotters game.
