Genie Bouchard came through in a big way for Canada Sunday.
After two hours and 39 minutes of match play, the Westmount native defeated Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5). The victory gives Canada a 2-1 lead over Ukraine in the Federation Cup World Group II playoff.
Bouchard was down 3-2 in the opening set but tied it at 4-4 after breaking serve with four straight points. Tsurenko responded with a break to take the match lead.
This match gets better and better! The crowd goes wild as @geniebouchard breaks back following ANOTHER epic rally.
— Fed Cup (@FedCup) April 22, 2018
🇨🇦1️⃣🆚1️⃣🇺🇦 #FedCup pic.twitter.com/lbeswJ5ceq
With Bouchard up 2-0 in the second set, Tsurenko took five straight points. Bouchard went on to take two breaks that won her the second set.
Tied 2-2 in the decisive final set, Bouchard held off five break points in a 15-minute game. Tsurenko eventually took the lead but Bouchard broke serve to even the score at 3-3. In the final leg of the marathon with both players struggling, Bouchard came out on top to give her country a slim edge over Ukraine.
The World Group II playoffs will be decided by a doubles match featuring Canada's Bianca Andreescu and Gabriela Dabrowski, who face Katernya Bondarenko and Olga Savchuk of Ukraine.