Eugenie Bouchard is building her way back to the top of the WTA Tour and she has to do it in a way that she doesn't have to experience quite often, through qualifying.
Currently, the 29-year-old Canadian competes at the 2023 Madrid Open, where she enrolled to the qualifying in hopes to secure her spot in the main draw. In the first round of the competition, Bouchard took on Sara Sorribes Tormo from Spain, who is a difficult opponent, especially on clay courts.
In 2021, the Spanish player finished the season as the 36th player on the WTA Tour after lifting her first, and until today only WTA title. But her start of the 2023 season was plagued by injuries and so they had a lot to talk about with Bouchard who is no stranger to injuries.
However, recently the Canadian said that she still believes in her comeback, and she showed that in the first qualifying match. Bouchard faced three break points already in the first game but she saved all and soon she had two chances to break her opponent.
She didn't sleep on those chances and marched into a 3-0 lead. She could extend that lead even further in the fourth game with another break point, but this time the 2014 Wimbledon finalist wasn't so sharp.
However, in the sixth game of the first set, she broke again and won the first set 6-1. Bouchard kept her level high and broke again to start the second set but soon it became apparent that her opponent wasn't 100% fit physically.
After the third game, Sorribes Tormo requested a medical time out, and although she tried to continue, ultimately, an injury forced her to retire from the match and Bouchard advanced to the final of the qualifying.
Although she played one of the first matches of the day, the Canadian already knows her opponent. She will fight for the spot in the main draw against Elizabeth Mandlik from the United States, as the American quickly eliminated Oceane Dodin, winning 6-1, 6-1.
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