Tennis: Eugenie Bouchard at the gates of the main draw in Madrid

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Eugenie Bouchard took advantage of a retirement to triumph in her first qualifying match for the 1000 series tournament in Madrid on Monday.

The Montrealer got rid of Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo, 102nd racket in the world, in two sets of 6-1 and 4-1.

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Visibly not in top form, the 26-year-old athlete abdicated after 1h 25min of play. She received medical help as they trailed 3-0 in the second set, then forfeited minutes later, possibly ill.

It was a costly loss for Sorribes Tormo, who was in 32nd place a little over a year ago. She should drop several ranks, since she had reached the quarter-finals of this event presented on her native land, in 2022.

Bouchard (285th) took advantage of her rival's lack of opportunism and his largesse in service to triumph. Sorribes Tormo didn't win any of the six rallies she started on her second attempt and let slip the five break points she offered herself.

The Quebecer also managed to discourage her rival delighting the first three games of the two contested legs.

Bouchard, ex-finalist of the Wimbledon tournament, is participating in a fourth competition in 2023. She did not reach the quarter-finals of an event in simple since that of Pune, India, last September.

She could get her ticket to the main draw in Madrid by defeating the American Elizabeth Mandlik (147th) on Tuesday.