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Match details
Fixture: Eugenie Bouchard vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Date: 12 March 2021
Tournament: Abierto Zapopan
Round: Semifinals
Venue: Guadalajara, Mexico
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Hardcourt
Prize money: $235,238
Match timing: Not before 7 PM local time, 6.30 am IST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel
Eugenie Bouchard vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto preview
Former World no. 5 Eugenie Bouchard will take on 20-year Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the semifinals of the Abierto Zapopan on Friday.
After a resurgent 2020, Bouchard has not had the best start to the 2021 season. The Canadian, currently ranked No. 144 in the world, lost in the second round of qualifying at the Australian Open. She followed that up with a first-round loss in Lyon.
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Her opponent, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, is a rising young player on the women's tour. The Italian made her big breakthrough by reaching the final of the WTA $125K Prague event last September as a qualifier.
In 2021, Cocciaretto has a 4-3 win-loss record. Three of those wins came at the Australian Open, where she qualified for the main draw for the second year in a row.
Eugenie Bouchard vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between Eugenie Bouchard and Elisabetta Cocciaretto, so their head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
Eugenie Bouchard vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto prediction
Eugenie Bouchard, who played the Lyon doubles final on Sunday, accepted a wild card for this tournament. Bouchard's willingness to travel from France to Mexico at such short notice is a testament to her professionalism and dedication.
After a three-set win over Caroline Dolehide, the Canadian scored straight-sets wins over No. 8 seed Kaja Juvan and American teen Caty McNally to reach the semifinals. This is just her second appearance at the last four stage of a WTA event since the beginning of the 2019 season.
"The last couple days have been a whirlwind," Bouchard said after her quarterfinal win. "I’ve had matches every single day, so I haven’t even had time to think about it. I’m just so grateful I could stay here for another day."
Elisabetta Cocciaretto, meanwhile, came into the main draw as a qualifier. She has scored three straight-sets wins, including one over top seed Nadia Podoroska, to advance to her first WTA level semifinal.
The windy conditions in Guadalajara, which is at an altitude of over 1,500m, tend to add a touch of unpredictability to the proceedings. Bouchard, now in her second decade as a pro, could find things particularly tough due to her flat groundstrokes.
That said, the Canadian has a lot more experience in the closing stages of tournaments, which may tilt the balance slightly in her favor.
Prediction: Eugenie Bouchard to win in three sets.
