AUCKLAND, New Zealand - 2014 Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard enjoyed a bright start to her 2019 season, knocking out American Madison Brengle, 6-3, 6-3 at the ASB Classic.

Bouchard hadn't won a season opener since 2016 when she reached the quarterfinals of the Shenzhen Open; beginning the year in for the first time since 2013, she dispatched Brengle after one hour and 11 minutes on Centre Court.


The former World No.5 began working with Mike Joyce at the end of last season and finished the year with a run to the semifinals at the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open, narrowly losing to Wimbledon semifinalist Julia Goerges.

Playing Brengle on Monday, she took a quick 3-0 lead to start the match; though the American edged back on serve, Bouchard remained in front and captured the opening set.

The Canadian went on to take the second set by an identical scoreline, converting six of 10 break point opportunities and maintaining a 68% first serve percentage throughout the decisive win. 

Awaiting Bouchard in the next round is either No.8 seed Alison van Uytvanck or Dutch qualifier Bibiane Schoofs.

More to come...