Former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 Chennai Open on Wednesday evening after a straight sets win over the last Indian left in the singles draw.
Bouchard, a former world No 5 on the comeback trail after missing 17 months due to shoulder surgery, had to battle hard against Indian wild card Karman Kaur Thandi. After winning the first set 6-2, Bouchard trailed the tall, hard-hitting Thandi 2-5 in the second set before fighting her way to a tiebreaker.
The Canadian won the tiebreaker for the loss of two points to complete the 6-2, 7-6 (2) win in two hours and 13 minutes in front of a boisterous crowd rooting for the Delhi-girl. Bouchard’s countrywoman Rebecca Marino, seeded seventh, joined her in the last eight with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa.
In the first match of the evening on SDAT Tennis Stadium’s Centre Court, 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova came from 0-3 down in the first set to upset fifth seed Rebecca Peterson 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 25 minutes and advance to the last eight.
Japanese qualifier Nao Hibino also made her way to the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over sixth seed Qiang Wang.
WTA Chennai Open Singles Second…
