PARIS - Canadian rising tennis star Eugenie Bouchard and Maria Sharapova are tied 1-1 going into the third set in their semi-final at the French Open.
Bouchard beat the veteran Sharapova 6-4 in the opening set. But Sharapova, a four-time Grand Slam winner fought back to take the second set 7-5.
Bouchard’s road to success was to keep Sharapova pinned behind the baseline and she did that early, taking a 4-2 lead in the first set.
Both are known as fiesty battlers, and both showed early signs of that resiliance under fire.
A Bouchard win will vault her into the top 10 on the tour; drop Sharapova out of the top 10.
Sharapova opened with serve, and took a very controlled 1-0 lead in a see-saw battle.
Bouchard hit ball long; then hit a ball into the net. She was down 40-love hitting another return long. Then, another fault gave the four-time Grand Slam champion the early advantage.
Bouchard battled back with her serve, running Sharapova along the baseline. She came to the net to score with a backhand, then tied the set 1-1 when Sharapova hit a return into the net.
The two have met twice before with Sharapova winning both times without losing a set.
Bouchard had her down two break points, then stuck a backhand return into the far corner; suddenly it seemed the veteran of 18 Grand Slam semi-finals - not the young Canadian in just her second Grand Slam semi-final - was, according to analyst Chris Evert, showing signs of some nerves.
Bouchard held serve to take a 3-1 lead, keeping Sharapova pinned behind the baseline.
Sharapova battled back to 3-2 and had break point in the next game - twice. Bouchard fought off the first coming to the net to score with a backhand. She fought off the second with a lovely serve, forcing Sharapova to hit into the net.
Bouchard would take a 4-2 lead, in the biggest match of her career yet, under the blue skies and puffy white clouds over Roland Garros.
Sharapova trailed 4-3 but had a 40-15 advantage and broke Bouchard’s serve to tie the set at 4-4, as the young Canadian looked on the defensive for the first time.
Bouchard fought back again, breaking Sharapova for a second time, to lead 5-4 with a chance to serve for the set.
Sharapova had break point. But Bouchard stuck a backhand inside the back corner. Went to set point with another shot that hd Sharapova running the wrong way. Then scored the set winner, out-playing her veteran opponent.
It was the third time Sharapova had lost the opening set at this tournament. Both previous times she had found a way back.
But Bouchard let Sharapova back into the match, allowing Sharapova to take a 5-2 lead in the second set.
The Canadian however would fight back, too, tying it 5-5.
The second set saw a much more aggressive Sharapova, charging to a 1-0 lead on serve, then breaking Bouchard.
Still, it was Sharapova who seemed plagued with unforced errors. There was a double fault. Then Bouchard chased her all over the court, breaking back to trail 2-1.
Bouchard failed to take advantage of a 40-love score; as Sharapova fought back, getting Bouchard again to break point; twice Bouchard fought it off. But then she faulted on serve to put Sharapova up 3-1.
Both players struggled to find consistency. Bouchard had 22 unforced errors; Sharapova had 19. Sharapova double faulted in the next game but Bouchard failed to take advantage of the chance to break back; falling behind 4-1 when she hit a return long.
Sharapova was having issues with her serve game.
Bouchard cut the margin to 4-2. Sharapova seemed to find some of that service consistently to take the next game, 5-2.
That let Sharapova serve for the game at 5-3. But Evert spoke again about how nervous Sharapova seemed.
And Bouchard seemed fearless.
Mentally tough. That same toughness Sharapova has shown in her career.
Sharapova was up at set point. And served into the net, double faulting for a seventh time.
Sharapova earned a second set point. And served into the net. Again! Double faulted. Again.
And, so it went. Back and forth. Bouchard took that gift, volleying into the open court for the advantage. Sharapova got it bsck to 40-40 with a backhand inches inside the line.
But for a third time Sharapova failed to convert set point and Bouchard broke back, cutting Sharapova’s lead to 5-4.
Bouchard showed great composure, holding serve to tie the match 5-5.
So, with Sharapova holding serve as well, it was up to Bouchard to force a tie-breaker.
Sharapova was up 40-15. Bouchard fought off a fourth set point, but then Sharapova put away the winner, taking the set 7-5.
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