Eugenie Bouchard of Canada celebrates winning a set against compatriot Bianca Andreescu during first round play at the Rogers Cup women's tennis tournament in Toronto, Tuesday August 6, 2019. Bouchard has advanced to the final of the Istanbul Tennis Championship. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
September 14, 2020 - 11:24 AM
PARIS - Canada's Eugenie Bouchard has received a wild card into the main draw of the French Open after reaching the final of the Istanbul Tennis Championship on Sunday.
Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., was awarded one of eight wild cards into the women's main draw, which starts Sept. 27. Six went to French players, with the other going to U.S. Open quarterfinalist Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.
Bouchard moved up 105 spots in the rankings to No. 167 after her runner-up showing at the Istanbul clay-court event as a qualifier.
The 26-year-old won six straight matches before falling to Patricia Maria Tig of Romania 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) on Sunday.
A former world No. 5 after reaching the final of Wimbledon in 2014, Bouchard has tumbled down the rankings in recent years.
Bouchard's best showing at the French Open was a semifinal appearance in 2014.
On the men's side, seven of eight main-draw wild cards went to French players, with the other going to Andy Murray of Great Britain.
This story by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2020.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2020