China’s Duan Yingying upsets Eugenie Bouchard: Canadian blames stomach injury for first-round defeat
The 117th-ranked player from Tianjin was playing in the main draw of a grand slam tournament for the first time
China’s 117th-ranked qualifier Duan Yingying caused the first major upset of Wimbledon when she dumped out 12th-seeded Eugenie Bouchard in the first round of the women’s singles.
Tianjin-born Duan scored a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory over the Canadian poster girl who set SW19 alight last year when she reached the final, losing in straight sets to Petra Kvitova.
But she has been struggling of late, losing in the first round of the French Open and suffering an abdominal injury in the Eastbourne grass-court event. Duan took full advantage for the biggest victory of her career.
I have a grade two tear in my ab. Probably wouldn’t have been smart to play here, but I couldn’t pass on Wimbledon. So I did minimal preparation to save myself for the match
The 26-year-old Duan’s lost in the first round of qualifying at this year’s French Open. The 21-year-old Bouchard, who disappointed Hong Kong fans by failing to show up for the local women’s professional event last year, said the stomach injury was still bothering her.
“I felt very unprepared for this match. But I wanted to play, no matter what,” Bouchard said.
“I have a grade two tear in my ab. Probably wouldn’t have been smart to play here, but I couldn’t pass on Wimbledon. So I did minimal preparation to save myself for the match.”
Bouchard said she had not yet vented her frustration at her Wimbledon exit.