Upsets Hit Charleston: Bouchard, Stephens, Stosur Lose; Makarova Withdraws

by Staff | April 9th, 2015, 9:12 am
  • 6 Comments

It was an upsetting day if you were a tournament favorite at Charleston. While Madison Keys advanced into the third round of the first WTA clay stop this spring, a host of top names departed in the second round.

Top seed and wildcard Genie Bouchard’s struggles continued as the Wimbledon finalist was sent off by Lauren Davis 6-3, 6-1.

“I obviously hate losing but I’m not going to be too hard on myself,” Bouchard said. “I know I’ve not been feeling like myself on the court, so it’s just a matter of taking some time now, not playing a tournament, and just taking some time to train and get back to feeling like myself on the court.


“I definitely felt a little bit slow today, overpowered, which is never usually the case. Usually I’m the one who’s dominating. So it was definitely just not good – whatever happened was just not good.”

For Davis it was her second career Top 10 win after Victoria Azarenka last year at Indian Wells.

“I’d never beaten her before, so I came out knowing I had nothing to lose,” Davis said. “I knew to beat her I’d have to be fearless – I saw this as a great opportunity.”

Sloane Stephens, who looked so good in Miami, also lost in straight sets, losing to 15 seed Mona Barthel 6-3, 7-6.

Former 2010 champion Sam Stosur was bounced by Lara Arruabarrena 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 and promising teen Belinda Bencic crashed out to qualifier Danka Kovinic.

Last year’s surprise finalist Jana Cepelova also fell, but to former French runner-up Sara Errani. Youngsters Ajla Tomljanovic and Donna Vekic also lost.

No. 2 seed Ekaterina Makarova had to withdraw after her match win due to a gastrointestinal issue.

Among those still remaining in the event are Keys, Jelena Jankovic, Angelique Kerber and defending champion Andrea Petkovic.


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6 Comments for Upsets Hit Charleston: Bouchard, Stephens, Stosur Lose; Makarova Withdraws

jane Says:

bouchard and stephens: two players who we’ve expected more from. sloane had already disappointed last year, but genie is really struggling. i wonder if the new coach can help get her back on track?


SG1 Says:

Jane…thanks for the article. I think that scary thing with Genie is that she doesn’t seem to know why her game has gone off the rails. It’s not strictly mechanics and it’s not strictly mental. Seems like she’s doing the work but not getting the results. Hopefully, this is her sophomore jinx period.


jane Says:

yes, i know. she said how she’s “trying to figure it out.” but doesn’t she now have azarenka’s old coach? one would think that he should also be trying to figure it out. the article does imply that genie had an “off” day while he opponent had an “on” day, which can sometimes be the case, of course. but still, there is no progression for genie right now.


Rich Says:

BOUCHARD: to me, a one dimensional player who doesn’t seem to be the best thinking tactician, just another Big Babe Tennis baseline boomer, to use Mary Carillo’s term. Bouchard does have talent, size and decent speed, and with great coaching could win a Slam or two, but little more, unless she vastly improves her strategic preparation and on court tactics.

STEPHENS: also no discernible tactics, hits the ball too hard with little or no touch or angles, and is too short to serve effectively. I believe she has hit her ceiling, and never will contend for a Slam. Top 20 and a nice career – wish I could do that myself – but that’s all.


jann Says:

With just one WTA title Genie said she had expected to win the Australian Open. Recently she said ‘she is usually dominating’. How unrealistic? She neither dominated the tour, nor the players she beat in 2014. Clearly she cannot separate her image of herself from her game. She attempts to smash a winner from the first stroke, but is often out of position if the ball does not land in the centre of the court, slashing, swiping and snatching at everything. On the plus, she expects to win every time, on the minus, she does not have a full compliment of tools. Never made Plan B, because she never expected to have need of it.

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