It went all sixth-seeded Eugenie Bouchard’s way for one set and a half but eventually it was the second seed Elina Svitolina who was the last one standing at the BMW Malaysian Open on Sunday. In a final that was interrupted by passing showers several times, the 21-year-old Ukrainian edged past former Wimbledon runner-up Bouchard 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5.
This was Svitolina’s first title of the season and the fourth of her fledgling career. She has recently hired the seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin as a special consultant and the partnership is already working wonders as she reached the semi-finals in Dubai just two weeks back. Her latest achievement has shot her up to her career-best ranking of 14th in the new WTA rankings released on Monday.
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At Kuala Lumpur, it was Svitolina who had the initial lead after making in-roads into Bouchard’s game to inch ahead 3-2 in the first set. The Canadian, who had endured a miserable 2015 season, had been showing signs of resurgence right from January. The 22-year-old, who also made the Hobart final this season, broke back Svitolina with some great movement and ruthless aggression.
In the ensuing tie-break, Bouchard once again fought back after trailing initially and grabbed the opening set 7-6(5).
The two players traded breaks in the early stages of the second set and it was Bouchard who looked set for the victory after going up 4-2. But she failed to win a single more game from thereon in the second set as Svitolina came storming back to pocket the next four games and level the contest.
The decider mirrored the goings-on of the second set as the two youngsters exchanged breaks to even the score at 4-4. The former World No. 5 Bouchard came within sniffing distance of clinching her second career title as she had an opportunity to serve out the match at 5-4. But she was broken to love and from there it was all Svitolina as the Ukrainian won three games on the trot to take the title.
“During the match, I tried to change something in my game plan; I tried to adapt. When I’m not winning, why should I do the same thing?,” Svitolina said about how she made the turnaround.
The 42nd ranked Bouchard is still searching for her first win over Svitolina whom the Canadian has never managed to beat in four career meetings.
