Eugenie Bouchard pulled an impressive performance in her first match at the Aegon International in Eastbourne where she faced Varvara Lepchenko. The Canadian who had disappointing results in the last two grass tournaments played one of her most solids matches in the year. She needed less than an hour to defeat the American, 6-1, 6-2.

A dominant Bouchard takes the first set

Bouchard began the match with a solid hold, then while her opponent was serving the Canadian started to play more aggressive and coming into the net, her shots also got a lot of depth and that cause Lepchenko to make unforced errors. Two more mistakes handed the early break to Bouchard who after a long game was able to consolidate the break and be up 3-0. The American then went on to hold her serve and get on the scoreboard, although she was still a break down.

The Canadian had to come back from being 0-30 down on her serve and then went on to save two break points to keep her advantage and up 4-1. After wasting her chance to get back on the set, Lepchenko hit four unforced errors to gift a second break to the Canadian who now had the task to serve out the set. Bouchard hit a deep forehand that forced her opponent to hit a long ball, and in just half an hour, the former Wimbledon finalist took the first set 6-1.

Eugenie Bouchard looks on during her first round match against Varvara Lepchenko at the Aegon International. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for LTA)
Eugenie Bouchard looks on during her first round match against Varvara Lepchenko at the Aegon International. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for LTA)

Lepchenko breaks but Bouchard remains strong

Bouchard didn’t drop her level at the start of the second set breaking Lepchenko to get an early lead that she later would confirm holding her serve to love to lead 2-0. The bad news for the American didn’t stop after that first games as she again was broken after an erratic game, now giving Bouchard a lead of two breaks to be up 3-0. However, the American broke back to love to get  one of the breaks back.

The good moment didn’t last long for the American who in the following game she again lost her serve and Bouchard recovered her lead of two breaks and now was up 4-1. The Canadian then went on to hold her serve to love to be one game away from the second round. Lepchenko wasn’t going to give her serve again that easily and she held for the first time in this set to get one more game than in the last set. Bouchard then closed the match in the way she played, hitting the lines and eventually did a fantastic backhand that Lepchenko couldn’t reach.

Up Next for Bouchard

Eugenie Bouchard will now face, Irina-Camelia Begu. They have played on two occasions, each player has won one match. Bouchard won their first meeting in 2015 at the Australian Open where she defeated the Romanian in three sets. Their latest encounter happened this year, not long at ago at Madrid where Begu won also in three sets.

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About the author
Liliana Martinez
Sports Journalist from Mexico City