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Bouchard Walks the Walk

May 8th 2017

There is an old saying, “If you talk the talk, you need to walk the walk.” Eugenie Bouchard defeated Maria Sharapova 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 at the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday after she recently stated the Russian should be banned from the sport after testing positive for the drug meldonium. Sharapova has returned to the sport after a 15-month suspension.

“She is a cheater and so to me, I don't think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again. It's so unfair to all the other players who do it the right way and are true,” Bouchard recently told Turkish TV.

Eugenie Bouchard

Sharapova responded, “I don't have anything to say – I am way above that.”

Given Bouchard’s play of late, many suggested that Sharapova would find payback for the comments on the court, the next time the two played. That would not be the case.

Awkwardness aside, it was a highly competitive match between the lines as both players slugged it out refusing to give an inch. After Bouchard took the first set, Sharapova gained control of the match, took the second set and looked as if she would drive the momentum to the victory. But to Bouchard’s credit, she refused to relent, fighting back against Sharapova on all fronts. Meanwhile, the veteran was not effective enough against the Canadian’s serve, an area many players aim to attack.

Bouchard celebrated the win jumping up and down on the court and the two players met for a frosty handshake at the net.

Eugenie Bouchard and Maria Sharapova

The barbs continued in post-match press as Bouchard said, “She said “Well played.” I think she's been playing really well in her so-called comeback – if you want to call it that.”

It should be pointed out that Sharapova has won 35 WTA singles titles and 5 grand slam titles while Bouchard has just one WTA title to her name thus far in her career. Perhaps this will mark the turning point to a difficult stretch of tennis for the 23-year old.