Bouchard ousted from singles draw at Rio 2016 as focus turns to doubles
Eugenie Bouchard had her moment on Centre Court at Rio 2016 on Monday, but was eliminated in the second round of the women’s singles by world number two Angelique Kerber of Germany, 6-4, 6-2.
Bouchard got the early jump in the match, breaking Kerber and going on to take a 4-1 lead. But the 2016 Australian Open champion and Wimbledon finalist turned it on to win the next five games, including two breaks of Bouchard’s serve, to take the first set.
Eugenie Bouchard sets up for a return in women’s singles second round action at Rio 2016 (August 8, 2016)
Kerber’s dominance continued in the second set, as she broke Bouchard immediately. In the fourth game, the German saved three break points against Bouchard, who struggled against her opponent’s defence, to go up 3-1. She followed up with another break of the Canadian’s serve to take a 5-1 lead before getting the chance to serve out the match.
“I think the slow court gave her a slight advantage,” said Bouchard. “She likes time, she likes to have these long points, run down lots of balls and take time to try and control me, so it was just tough out there today.”
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Bouchard, who has been enjoying her Olympic experience immensely, as evidenced on social media, is still alive in the women’s doubles with Gaby Dabrowski. Their next opponents will be Lucie Safarova and and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic, who upset Serena and Venus Williams 6-3, 6-4 in their opening match on Sunday. The Americans came in as three-time Olympic gold medallists in the event, including back-to-back titles at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
“I am very happy I decided to come to Rio,” said Bouchard, who in the weeks leading up to the Games had expressed some uncertainty about her participation. “It’s a little bit of a different feeling, feeling like you’re on a team, and feeling that extra support around me this week it’s just been so nice. You just feel like people really appreciate the hard work you put in and what you’re trying to do, not just for yourself, it’s always for me, but this week I felt a little more for my country as well.”
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Later on Monday, Vasek Pospisil and Daniel Nestor were scheduled to compete in their second round doubles match against Portugal’s Gastao Elias and Joao Sousa. Pospisil was eliminated from the men’s singles draw in the first round by sixth-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils, 6-1, 6-3.
