Alize Cornet outshines Eugenie Bouchard to enter the title-round – Internationaux de Strasbourg 2013
Local star, Alize Cornet, got the better of the Canadian starlet, Eugenie Bouchard, in a three-set match at the Internationaux de Strasbourg 2013 on Friday. She summed up a 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-3 victory against the 19-year-old to secure
a place in the final showdown at this WTA International level event taking place in Strasbourg, France.
Seeded third at this event, Cornet lost her track in the tie-breaker of second set. However, she lifted her game afterwards and consequently sealed the deal.
The Frenchwoman stated in a post match press conference, "It's going better and better each match, which is a good sign. I hope I'll recover well to be ready tomorrow. Eugenie was playing very aggressive and was pushing me way
behind the baseline. I had to dig deep inside to find the energy to play three hours and come through at the end."
Cornet made a dismal start, as she suffered the first blow in the ninth game and trailed at 4-5. However, she snatched her break back in the very next game and eventually pulled out the opener with a 7-5 score line.
The world number 93, Bouchard, lifted her game in the proceeding set. She drew the first blood in the very next game and took the initial lead. The Canadian lost her edge in the sixth game but got the upper hand again in the ninth
game. Despite wasting her chance of serving out the set, Bouchard prevailed in the tie-breaker to grab the equaliser with a 7-6(5) success.
Ranked 31st in the WTA Premier Rankings, Cornet found her rhythm again in the final set. She got the coveted break in the opening game and jumped to 2-0 lead. The Frenchwoman held her entire serves with poise and capitalised
on another break chance in the last game to pocket the decider with a 6-3 win.
Next challenger for Cornet is the high flying Czech, Lucie Hradecka, in the title-round. The Czech is bidding for her maiden WTA career title at this clay court event. She reflected, "It will be a very tough match. It's a final.
She will have the crowd support. I will try my best. I've played her once on hard courts in Montréal. I won. I remember it was a close match. We'll see what happens."
The Czech made a dismal start as she gifted away the opening set after suffering a breadstick. However, she stayed focused and subsequently sealed the deal with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 score line.
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