Kuznetsova Stops Bouchard In Madrid; Halep Hammers CoCo

The run of Eugenie Bouchard came to an end today at the hands of Svetlana Kuznetsova. Bouchard breathed some life into a fledgling WTA by beating Maria Sharapova and then Angelique Kerber but today the Canadian wasn’t up to par against Kuznetsova in a 6-4, 6-0 loss.

“I kind of didn’t know exactly what to expect because I didn’t play Eugenie for a while,” said Kuznetsova who finished with 28 winners to just 7 unforced errors. “I trained with her, I believe in Sydney a little bit. But clay, she been winning matches, so I want to see how she’s doing like that.”

In search of her first clay title since winning the French Open, Kuznetsova will face Kristina Mladenovic in the semifinals. The Frenchwoman reached her fifth final four of the year beating Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-4.

Mladenovic has won 10 of her last 11 matches since the tour has turned to clay.

“Sveta, my doubles partner and we’re doing great,” Mladenovic said. “We were doing great and enjoying our time together, like practices, warm-ups and doubles. As a player, she has lots of experience. She’s coming back strong, maybe playing her best tennis ever, even though she’s already a former Grand Slam champion.”

Added Kuznetsova, “Kiki is playing great on clay courts. I think it’s her best season in her life, in her career. Definitely she has the momentum. I’m also playing good on clay. So I think it’s going to be very interesting match, something interesting to see.

“We texted after the match because we usually congratulate each other after each match. We said, ‘Let’s do it, let’s have a good match.

Earlier, defending champion Simona Halep hammered the free-swinging, error-making CoCo Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-1.

“It was very good match actually,” Halep said. “I knew what I have to do against her. I knew that I have to play fast, to make her move, to hit from distance.

“I tried also to be more aggressive from her second serve. I served pretty well. I don’t believe I lost a serve today.”

Halep will face the surprising Anastasjia Sevastova who continued her run beating Kiki Bertens 6-3, 6-3.