Montreal’s Eugenie Bouchard had a major challenge in the first round of the Omnium Agel on Tuesday in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
The game’s former world no.
After 68 minutes, Genius won a very close first set, in a tiebreak.
Bouchard had managed to get into the main draw by winning two qualifying matches, mainly against the 5m favorite and 87m world player, Hungarian Dalma Galfi.
The 2014 Wimbledon runner-up has been showing some interesting signs since returning to action in August after a year and a half away.
Serving for the match at 5-4 in the final set, Bencic caught fire conceding two break points to the Canadian, who was unable to capitalize to extend the suspense.
For the entire game, Bouchard had 36 winners, including six aces. In total he made 25 unforced errors.
Bouchard will return to action next week, having been given a bye by tournament organizers Cluj-Napoca in Romania.
Kasatkina defeats Raducanu
Daria Kasatkina defeated Emma Raducanu 7-5, 6-4 to reach the second round at the Ostrava Open.
Fifth seed Kasatkina held a 4-2 break advantage over Raducanu, the 2021 Flushing Meadows queen.
The two players faced each other for the first time. Radoukanou committed 28 unforced errors, 12 more than her opponent.
Kasatkina was playing her first match since losing in the first round in New York. Her next opponent will be the Russian, Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich, ranked 31st in the world, toppled eighth seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-2.
