Simona Halep and Genie Bouchard will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers and for the first time since 2014 when they meet again in the Australian Open second round on Thursday.
All three of their previous encounters came four years ago, with Halep getting the job done on two occasions. The Romanian prevailed 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 in Indian Wells and 6-2, 6-3 at the WTA Finals in Singapore, which sandwiched a 7-6(5), 6-2 loss in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Bouchard, though, was at the peak of her game at that point. Now 23 years old, the Canadian should be even more in her prime right now–but that is far from the case. She is struggling down at No. 112 in the world, which is why she is unseeded in Melbourne and forced to face Halep as early as round two.
“It’s a normal match,” Halep said. “Nothing special. I know how she’s playing, but we [haven’t played each other in a] long time. Wimbledon semi 2014 (and then Singapore). So, (a) long time ago. I know that she’s staying at the baseline. She tries to hit very fast. I have to do also the same game like I’m doing: aggressive and trying to move her.”
Of course, Bouchard will be trying to do the same to her opponent because Halep is going into with a questionable ankle, which she sprained during a 7-6(5), 6-1 victory over Australian wild card Destanee Aiava on Tuesday. The world No. 1 survived a roller-coaster opening frame of play and then battle through the second set despite rolling her ankle early in the second-set proceedings.
Speaking of not good, Halep lost in the first round in four of her first seven trips to Melbourne and she has never made it past the quarters. That should change at the expense of a struggling Bouchard…but only if the favorite is 100 percent.
Pick: Halep in 2
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Bouchard in three