BOUCHARD REACHES HER FIRST WTA FINAL
Montreal, October 12, 2013 – In her third semifinal appearance at a WTA tournament, Eugenie Bouchard (Westmount, QC) overcame that hurdle for the first time in her career to reach her maiden WTA final at the HP Open in Osaka, Japan, an International Series event.
Bouchard went up against Japanese wildcard Kurumi Nara, ranked no. 87 in the world, who upset eighth-seeded Monica Puig en route to the semifinals. The 19-year-old Canadian showcased her superiority in posting a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory after 86 minutes of play. In the win, Bouchard won 75 percent of her first serve points, and lost her serve only once in the match. She becomes the first Canadian since Rebecca Marino at Memphis in 2011 to reach a WTA final. Aleksandra Wozniak is the last Canadian to win a title, at Stanford in 2008.
Bouchard will face Aussie Samantha Stosur in the final. The two players met earlier this year on clay at Charleston, and it was the Canadian who came out on top when Stosur was forced to retire with Bouchard leading 6-1, 2-0.
—Tennis Canada
Tennis Atlantic 