French Open 2014: Maria Sharapova beats Eugenie Bouchard; advances to finals
By Josh Sanchez
On Thursday morning, Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard faced off in the first women’s singles semifinal at the 2014 French Open. Everyone was expecting a thrilling match and the two women delivered.
In the previous two meetings between Sharapova and Bouchard, the Russian star was victorious. Sharapova defeated Bouchard (6-2, 6-0) in Miami and at Roland Garros (6-2, 6-4). Both matches took place in 2013.
Before the match reports surfaced of a heated argument between Bouchard and her longtime coach, but she side no signs of distraction when she stepped onto the clay court at Roland Garros.
This time around, the 20-year-old Canadian won her first set against Sharapova by starting off strong, but the Russian rebounded in a big way.
Bouchard had a 9-0 record after winning the first set of a major (5-0 in the French Open), but going about against someone as tough as Sharapova was Bouchard’s biggest test to date.
Entering the final set tied at one win a piece, we were bracing for a shootout.
After Sharapova took the first game, Bouchard jumped out to a 40-0 lead with serve. However, as she did earlier in the second set, Bouchard blew the lead and allowed Sharapova to come back to even up the game and take the advantage. After an unforced error, Sharapova went up 3-1 in the final set with the win well within her grasp.
On the following game, Bouchard had another chance to inch closer, but she sent an easy shot wide and the frustration began to mount as Sharapova took another game and was just two away from advancing.
All of the momentum was in Sharapova’s corner and she was looking as sharp as ever as the 20 year old began to fall apart down the stretch.
Bouchard wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, as she rebounded to claim a game but still had an uphill battle to climb if she wanted to advance to the finals and have a shot at shooting up the world rankings.
Sharapova needed to avoid giving up a game that would give Bouchard momentum, and Bouchard helped her out by sending more potential points sailing wide of the boundary.
Just one game away from the win, Sharapova jumped out to an early 30-0 lead, and was able to hold off for the win on the fifth match point despite a late charge from Bouchard.
Sharapova took the final set and the win (4-6, 7-5, 6-2).
Sharapova will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Simona Halep and Andrea Petkovic to determine the 2014 champion.