Daria Gavrilova upsets Eugenie Bouchard to reach the third qualifier – Australian Open 2013
Unfortunately the 18-year-old Canadian blonde, Eugenie Bouchard, lost in the second qualifying round of the Australian Open at the hands of the 222nd ranked Russian teenager, Daria Gavrilova, which dismissed her chances
of qualifying for the main round event at Melbourne. She lost the match in straight sets but it was a double tie-breaker loss; 6(7)-7, 6(6)-7.
It was the third encounter between the two athletes and the 18-year-old Canadian had won the previous two battles so it was expected that she will cruise past her rival with ease. However, the 145th ranked Bouchard failed
to live up to the expectations and disappointed her fans all across the globe.
The match began with the serve hold at both ends. However, the superior ranked professional stumbled apart in the third game of the match that was a major factor in her downfall. She fought back to equalise the scores in the sixth
game but she still wasn’t convincing enough to threaten her rival. Both players capitalised on their serves to push the scores at 5-5.
Gavrilova had an opportunity to break serve but she failed to convert the allotted opportunity. On the other hand, the Canadian had the chance to end the first set in the 12th game of the match but she also failed to
win a breakpoint that enforced the tie-breaker into play.
The 18-year-old Russian grinded out a close win in the opening set. Bouchard was expected to fight back in the second set. She struck the first two blows as well by gaining a stupendous lead of 4-1 courtesy to two successive breakpoints.
However, the youngster from Russian came back with a strong reply and won the next two breakpoints to equalise the scores at 4-4.
Suddenly, the Canadian was pushed on the back foot. Both players swapped breakpoints that kept the match alive. They held their serves to enter another tie-breaker situation. Bouchard couldn’t absorb the scoreboard pressure and
despite a very strong effort she couldn’t win that critical point that could have turned the tables on her rival. The Russian won the second set as well and marched on.
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