February 5, 2025

Open Court

MORE TENNIS THAN YOU'LL EVER NEED

Watch: Next up for Bouchard in GDL: Ostapenko

GUADALAJARA – The first match at the WTA 1000 level since the 2019 Rogers Cup for Genie Bouchard was a nervy one.

Consider the unique conditions – the altitude, the slow courts – and the fact that her first-round match at the Guadalajara Open against American qualifier Kayla Day was arguably the first match of her comeback that she was probably expected to win, and there were some jangly moments.

There were also some terrific moments. And Day had far more jangly moments – especially in the latter stages of both sets of Bouchard’s 7-5, 6-3 victory.

Here’s what it looked like.

Bouchard appeared to quickly turn the page when she went through a couple of error-prone patches.

And the biggest stat was that she won nearly 63 per cent of her second-serve points, while Day could barely win a third of her own.

It was an extremely friendly draw, when you consider some of the other first-round clashes out there. But sometimes the draw gods are kind.

Here’s what she had to say afterwards.

(Note that the sound is atrocious – it was the first day in the big press tent, with a constant hum of generators outside and microphones set too low and the sound bouncing all over the place. Tried to adjust the levels, but couldn’t even use this footage on TV. But thought it might be of interest to her fans to see it. We cut out some of the “Would you rather be on TV than play tennis?” and “How about those pizza parties?” questions, where appropriate).

Bouchard’s last big career moment came in Guadalajara, in March 2021, when she not only won her first main-draw match since the fall 2020 edition of Roland Garros, but went all the way to the final.

After a first-round loss at the next tournament in Monterrey, she was gone for nearly 18 months and had shoulder surgery in June, 2021.

So on some level, it was friendly and familiar territory. And it showed.

There’s even a poster of her from the Abierto Zapopan WTA 125 tournament, that WAS to have been held in March, 2020.

Bouchard was literally about to set off to Guadalajara to play this when word came that everything was cancelled because of the early warning signs of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her poster decorates the media centre here.

Jelena Ostapenko up next

In the second round, set for Noon EDT Wednesday, Bouchard will face a familiar face, but one she has never before played in singles.

It’s the No. 12 seed, Jelena Ostapenko.

Ostapenko, who has former Naomi Osaka and Karolina Pliskova coach Sascha Bajin with her in Guadalajara, made short work of Lauren Davis in the first round, beating her 6-1, 6-3.

The two have played doubles together, most notably at the 2017 US Open.

A lot has changed for both since them – not just the kits they’re wearing.

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