Bouchard Scores Another Upset and Venus Moves on in Tokyo
Eugenie Bouchard continued her run at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday, defeating Jelena Jankovic to reach the quarterfinals 7-5, 6-2. In opening round action, Bouchard came back from 7-5, 5-3 down to beat the ninth-seeded American Sloane Stephens in the second round.
Bouchard’s win over the 10th-ranked Jankovic is her second top 10 win, having beaten number nine Samantha Stosur at Charleston earlier this year.
"Last year, I came here and thought I would get in, but I didn’t even get into qualies … I was two out of qualies,” said Bouchard. “So I was just here practicing. But this year, my luck changed because I was last in the main draw. Of course my ranking has improved in the past year, so getting in this year is thanks to that. Now I’m just taking advantage of being main draw. I’m happy to play as many matches as I can."
Also advancing was Venus Williams, who followed up her second round upset over the top-seeded Victoria Azarenka by beating the 13th-seeded Simona Halep, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. After winning the first set Halep, was up a break three times in the second set and even led 2-0 in the third with a point for 3-0, but Venus never stopped fighting, winning six of the last seven games of the match and 12 of the last 13 points to close it out and move on through to the quarterfinals.
"It was very tough … she played so well, she played amazing," said Venus. "I don’t know how I was able to win today … I just wanted to stay in Japan longer and play for you guys! But I’m very happy to arrive in the quarterfinals. I’m taking it one match at a time and I like it."
