Canada poised to sweep Serbia in Fed Cup after wins by Aleksandra Wozniak and Eugenie Bouchard Saturday
MONTREAL – The first win, by Aleksandra Wozniak over Serbian No. 1 Vesna Dolonc, was full of drama and ended in tears of joy.
The second, by Genie Bouchard over Fed Cup rookie Jovana Jaksic, was a ruthless, clinical schooling.
And after the first day of Canada's Fed Cup tie against Serbia at the Centre Claude-Robillard in Montreal, the home country is up 2-0 and poised to sweep with a win by Bouchard over Dolonc Sunday afternoon.
"I really wanted to come back with my team. I play with a lot of emotion for my country, and that’s why I have a lot of success in Fed Cup. We only have a chance to do it once or twice a year, so I’m really happy," said Wozniak, who has missed much of the last year and a half with a shoulder injury.
That helped explain the emotions after the win. The tears began before the 26-year-old had even reached the net to shake hands with her opponent. It was a rare display of emotion from the usually stoic Wozniak.
"I didn’t play tennis for six months. That was something new for me in my career. I guess it’s a hill I have to climb back up. Each match helps me progress, and helps my game and confidence. To play here at home gives me even more energy, even more confidence," she said.
As for Bouchard, she was facing an opponent just five months older, but several level below her in the pecking order.
Bouchard, who turns 20 in a couple of weeks, is already in the top 20. Jaksic, who won five small events in 2013, has just broken into the top 150.
After the first point of the match, Jaksic (making her Fed Cup debut) was already pumping her fist and exhibiting plenty of behaviour that's common currency in the juniors – and that's not even mentioning the annoying, squeaking type of sound she emitted after finishing every stroke, a noise the crowd needed to hear for about three minutes before it started imitating her.
Meanwhile, Bouchard was relentless as she took Jaksic to the woodshed.
All of the Jaksic "activity" couldn't have gone unnoticed. Even as the Montrealer was on her way to laying a second-set bagel on her Serbian opponent, she was doing a little subtle fist-pumping of her own. Bouchard was on a mission.
Mission accomplished.
Bouchard can complete the sweep Sunday; she's first up at 1 p.m. against Doloncs.
If necessary, Wozniak would meet Jaksic. If the tie is already decided, they will skip the second singles and play the doubles.
Here's some video from Wozniak's press conference:
Some video from Bouchard's press conference:
A photo slideshow from Wozniak's victory:
A photo slideshow from Bouchard's victory: