BOUCHARD LOSES & TENNIS NEWS AND UPDATES FROM BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

Written by: Staff on 17th June 2015

BOUCHARD LOSES & TENNIS NEWS AND UPDATES FROM BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

Canadian Eugenie Bouchard returns the ball to Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan, during their match of the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2015. EPA/MAURIZIO BRAMBATTI |

A Tale of Former Champions in Birmingham

A Tale of Former Champions

In a day with seeds scattering all over the place, former champion Jelena Jankovic seemed to be the most at ease at reliving old glories.

With both Serbian’s finest taking to the courts at the same time, defending champion was up against it right from the start against Michelle Larcher de Brito, losing her serve twice in a row, and although she pegged back one break, it was not enough as the first set went awry.

It is a terribly unforgiving surface for a slow start, as Ivanovic ruefully admitted as despite leveling, she was edged out of a competitive deciding tie-break, as Larcher de Brito closed out a 6-4 3-6 7-6(6) win.

She said: “Today I started really bad until I found my rhythm and so on. Her ball was staying very, very low, so I struggled with it a little bit at times.

“I was really disappointed I couldn’t hold my serve in the third set. I think getting a win and moving on to the next one, it would be different game next match. But it’s always tough, that change.”

Meanwhile Jelena Jankovic was deftly handling tricky leftie Casey Dellacqua, and looking to build on a decent run in ‘s-Hertogenbosch to the semi-finals, losing there to Belinda Bencic.

Jankovic is at her most charming when she’s back to winning ways. In fact she is pretty much on top form these days even if she loses, so happy is she to be back on the courts after some pretty discouraging injuries, so she was ever the glittery optimist we all know and love.

“Jelena Jankovic won her 1st round match in #Birmingham!
[15] Jelena Jankovic def. Tereza Smitkova 6:4 6:4″ – Photo by @tennis.serbia via Instagram.

“I think you always love coming back to the tournaments that you have done well, that you won and you have great memories playing at the venue, so I’m really happy that I’m here. I enjoy playing on this grass here in Birmingham. So far so good. You know, I’m looking forward.

“I’m glad I was able to win a against my opponent today. She was playing really well and is a lefty player. It’s not easy. It’s very tricky. And I look forward to playing tomorrow as well. “

She will face another maybe not so tricky leftie in Angelique Kerber, who ended Tsvetana Pironkova’s annual glory runs on grass. They have a pretty tight head to head with the German edging their head to head 201 with two wins over her in 2014.

Jankovic though can always be relied upon to turn any situation to humour, joking about tomorrow’s match: “What do you mean, take care of business? (Laughter.)”

All joking aside she knows that she faces a few challenges on a surface that has not always been that kind to her in recent years.

“You just focus one match at time and don’t really look too far ahead. Every opponent is tough, especially on grass. The points are a lot shorter and anything can happen out there.

“You have to keep up your focus at the high level, and, you know, it’s just one point at time, one game at time and not really look too far ahead. Stay in the moment.”

There were a few more shocks in store for the organisers though, as following Ivanovic out of the tournament was Eugenie Bouchard, whose worrying turn of form saw her relinquish a great effort of leveling the match to crash out once more in the first round to Kristina Mladenovic.

Victoria Azarenka did not even make it onto the court, having to withdraw with a foot injury, having Zarina Diyas a walkover.

The day ended up much like the score-sheet – washed out with last remaining British hope Johanna Konta granted a stay of execution (ok, that’s a little dramatic – stay of exit) with her match against Karolina Pliskova carried over to Thursday.

Play is scheduled to start in Birmingham at 11am BST.

Topics: Ana Ivanovic, Birmingham, Genie Bouchard, Jelena Jankovic, Sports, Tennis News, Vika Azarenka, Wta

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June 17, 2015 at 3:25 pm

-@geniebouchard LOSES & #TENNIS NEWS AND UPDATES FROM #Birmingham, #England- http://t.co/8pO2eHlwma #GenieArmy #WTABirmingham #Bouchard