Music: {allcanada} BOUCHARD DEFEATS CIRSTEA; MOVES INTO THIRD-ROUND AT US OPEN

Thursday, August 28, 2014

{allcanada} BOUCHARD DEFEATS CIRSTEA; MOVES INTO THIRD-ROUND AT US OPEN

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NEW YORK - It took longer than she would have liked, but Eugenie Bouchard is on to the third round of the US Open.

Wimbledon women's finalist Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., needed a lift in the third set to defeat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4. Bouchard will face Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the third round.

The 20-year-old Bouchard won the first set and twice recovered from a break down in the second set as her fighting spirit at the big events came into evidence. But Cirstea, ranked 80th after standing 21st a year ago, took the match into a third set as midnight approached.

"I had to battle in the second set, her game was getting a lot more solid," said Bouchard. "I believed in myself. I told myself to keep fighting. I started taking the ball early and it paid off."

The seventh seed went up an early break in the final set but lost it, only to break the Romanian back for 4-3 on a double-fault.

Cirstea saved a match point in the ensuing game before Bouchard finally served out the winner after more than two hours a game later, firing off back-to-back service winners.

"It's so special to play my first match on Ashe stadium at night," said Bouchard . "I'm so excited to have a chance to play another match. I want to improve my tennis for that one."

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