Caption:MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 20: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada plays a forehand in her second round match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during day three of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard played in one of the biggest games in a long time during the second round of the Australian Open, which she lost against fourth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.
Bouchard, 21, a native of Westmount, Que., lost 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday in what she called “the biggest match I’ve played in awhile against the toughest opponent by far since my comeback from injury.”
“It was my toughest, I did ok,” she stated regarding the matchup, which lasted just under 90 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.
Bouchard has been on the road to a comeback ever since a concussion she suffered after a fall in the locker room at the U.S. Open last year. She has now won seven of her 10 matches so far this season after playing in China and Tasmania.
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Bouchard confessed that she was nervous and that her heart was pounding during her last game, which she finished with 25 winners and 37 unforced errors.
“I don’t have any concussion symptoms, if so I would not be able to play,” Bouchard later added. “So far so good — that’s the most important thing. I’ve been able to play three weeks in a row over here. That’s a victory for me no matter what my results are.”
Bouchard started off the match well, securing a 4-2 first-set lead with a break of serve on a winning drop shot. However, the Canadian was unable to finish off strong as her Polish opponent broke back a game later from a double-fault.
Bouchard was then broken again as Radwanska claimed a 5-4 margin and secured the opener after 48 minutes on a fifth set point, an inside-out forehand winner which Bouchard was unable to reach.
Bouchard made a last stand, and won three break points in the eighth game — all saved. Radwanska got her victory after a Bouchard backhand to the net before a final error.
Earlier on Wednesday, both Toronto’s Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil of Vancouver advanced to the second round of men’s doubles.
Earlier this month, Nestor became the first player in ATP Tour History to earn 1,000 double victories with a victory in the opening round at the Apia International in Sydney.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 20: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada plays a forehand in her second round match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during day three of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
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