Photo: Abierto Zapopan
She had enjoyed a terrific week at the WTA 250 Abierto Zapopan, but Canada’s Genie Bouchard fell just short of capping it off by lifting a second-career WTA title as she fell to a 6-2, 7-5 loss to Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in Saturday’s final.
The 27-year-old’s performances in Guadalajara, Mexico were even more impressive as they came just a matter of hours after her doubles final appearance at the Lyon Open in France just last Sunday. In fact, there were just two days between that match and her first-round clash across the Atlantic.
Heading into the championship match in Mexico, Bouchard had dropped just a single set at the tournament – in her opening-round meeting with the United States’ Caroline Dolehide. Since then, straight sets victories over eighth seed Kaja Juvan of Slovenia, Caty McNally of the United States, and Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto ensured she entered the final full of confidence.
Her opponent, Sorribes Tormo – ranked No. 71 on the WTA Tour, had overcome the challenge of second seed Marie Bouzková of the Czech Republic in the semi-finals, as well as Belgium’s Greet Minnen, Leonie Kung of Switzerland and Australia’s Astra Sharma in previous rounds.
In her Saturday evening match against Sorribes Tormo, Bouchard dropped the first set 6-2. Her second serve point win percentage of just 21% hampered her but, more frustratingly, she was unable to convert on seven break point opportunities.
The second set started erratically as Bouchard went down a break, then fought back level before being broken again in the space of the opening three games. Both players were showing controlled aggression in their shot making and there were some spectacular rallies for the spectators to enjoy.
There was certainly plenty to marvel at for Canadian tennis fans as Bouchard won four consecutive games to go from 1-3 down to 5-3 up. However, in her attempts to serve out the set, the Montrealer found herself in 15:40 hole – and hit a backhand into the net to allow Sorribes Tormo back into contention.
The Spaniard then convincingly won the next game on Bouchard’s serve to love to hand herself the chance to win it all. She carved a 40:15 lead and hit a leaping volley beyond the Canadian on match point to claim the set, match and championship.
