Photo: Martin Sidorjak
Both Eugenie Bouchard and Rebecca Marino battled hard in their quarter-final matches on Friday at the Chennai Open in India but were unable to advance at the WTA 250 event.
Bouchard faced double duty with a match scheduled in singles and doubles. She began the day in dominant fashion, taking the opening set 6-1 over Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska thanks to some vintage, aggressive form that allowed her to overwhelm her opponent. She also served well and never allowed Podoroska to get back in the set.
Unfortunately, the intense heat and humidity got to the Canadian in sets two and three. She received a visit from the doctor and physio early in the second set to have her blood pressure checked and to ice her legs for fear of cramping. Still, she fought hard in the tough conditions before ultimately falling 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. Bouchard then gave it a go in the doubles semifinals alongside her partner Yanina Wickmayer, but was forced to retire in the second set.
For her part, Marino, seeded seventh in the draw, had her chances to take the opening set of the quarter-final match against third-seeded Magda Linette of Poland, but was unable to convert her opportunities, particularly in the tiebreak, and was defeated 7-6(10), 6-3.
It was a good week for both players as they continue their rise up the WTA rankings. Marino will move up to around no. 80 while Bouchard, who returned to the tour this summer after a one-year absence following shoulder surgery without a ranking, will rise to about no. 520.
Meanwhile, Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani will play their semifinal match on Saturday in Chennai against Peangtarn Plipuech and Moyuka Uchijima. Dabrowski will be looking to win her second doubles title of the season this weekend.
