CHARLESTON, SC—In a first-round match between former Grand Slam finalists, it was Sara Errani who prevailed in straight sets over Eugenie Bouchard, 6-4, 6-4.
The last time these two played each other was back in 2014, only months before Bouchard reached her first career major championship match at Wimbledon. She defeated the 2012 French Open runner-up in straight sets back then in Indian Wells.
The years since have had their ups and downs for both players, but in this encounter between the former members of the Top 5, it was Errani who set the tone of today’s match right away, breaking Bouchard in the first game and then consolidating to take a 2-0 lead. Bouchard held the next game, then jumped to a quick lead on Errani’s serve before breaking to level the set at two games apiece.
Bouchard’s momentum continued as she stretched her games-won streak to three. Errani then worked her way through a difficult hold, and on Bouchard’s serve, a couple of crafty backhands and huge forehands led her to another service break. From there, the two remained on serve and on set point for Errani, the Italian hit a forehand that clipped the net that Bouchard was unable to get a play on. That gave her the opener, 6-4.
Match point from Errani's victory over Bouchard in Charleston:
