Alize Cornet will go into the Australian Open with momentum after blowing out Eugenie Bouchard in the Hobart International final. The Frenchwoman took advantage of a terrible serving display from the young Canadian to cruise to her fifth career WTA Tour title.
Set One: Cornet Survives Crazy Start
Bouchard seemed on her way to a solid start when she raced out to a 40-15 lead. She quickly fell apart though and Cornet grabbed the break to open the match. But just like her semifinal, Bouchard fell back on her red-hot return of serve to immediately reclaim the break. She won four straight points on Cornet’s first serve. Again, Bouchard’s serve failed her, as the Frenchwoman broke back for another lead at 2-1. It seemed as though the craziness would continue when Bouchard held a pair of break points, but Cornet saved both and held to consolidate the break at 3-1.
The momentum was now firmly in Cornet’s corner. She broke Bouchard again for a 4-1 lead and then held to force Bouchard to serve to stay in the set. The 21-year-old Canadian held a pair of game points in the 7th game, but could not convert either. Cornet then brought up a set point and converted to claim the opening set in 35 minutes.
Set Two: Big Comeback Gives Cornet Title
With her back up against the wall, Bouchard brought her A-game to start the second set. She broke Cornet to grab the early lead, and followed it up by holding serve for the first time in the match. With the 2-0 lead, it seemed as though the momentum had swung back to the Canadian. That was short-lived as a combination of a complete collapse of Bouchard’s serve and an increase in form by Cornet saw the momentum flip once again. Cornet would win six consecutive games to claim the set and the match. Cornet dominated her own serve for the remainder of the match, not giving Bouchard another break point opportunity. She broke the Canadian three times in a row, including a break for the match at 5-2.
By the Numbers
The Hobart final was a complete nightmare for Bouchard, who is looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2015 season. She got less than 50 percent of her first serve points in, only winning 45 percent of her second serve points. She was even worse on her first serve, only winning 37 percent of those points. She hit five double faults and no aces.
Cornet’s serve was hardly better, only winning 40 percent of her second serve points. However, she limited Bouchard to four break points, while converting seven of her 13 opportunities to break the Canadian’s serve.
Cornet’s title is the fifth of her career. Bouchard falls to 1-4 in WTA finals. The loss was particularly disappointing for Bouchard, who was playing some of the best tennis of her career going into the final. She seemed worn out in the final, particularly while serving. However, she should be feeling fairly confident entering the Australian Open after reaching the quarterfinals and finals of her first two events of 2016.
Both women will face early challenges in Melbourne. Cornet will likely play second seed Simona Halep in the second round, while Bouchard is lined up to played fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the second round.