Eugenie Bouchard blasts past Shuai Peng at Australian Open to set up round-two clash with Serena Williams
- Eugenie Bouchard beat wildcard Shuai Peng 6-2, 6-1 at the Australian Open
- Bouchard’s 59-minute win set up a match with Serena Williams in round two
- Canadian Bouchard has lost both of her previous matches against Williams
Eugenie Bouchard booked a second-round meeting with Serena Williams by making light work of beating Chinese wildcard Shuai Peng at the Australian Open.
Canadian Bouchard, a semi-finalist here in 2014, needed just 59 minutes to blast past Peng 6-2, 6-1 on Tuesday.
Bouchard was only broken once by her 33-year-old opponent, who lost six service games on 1573 Arena.
Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard has booked her place in the second round of the Australian Open
Chinese wildcard Shuai Peng was beaten 6-2, 6-1 in 59 minutes at Melbourne Park on Tuesday
Bouchard broke serve six times as she won comfortably to progress to the last 64 Down Under
The 24-year-old from Montreal won 53 points — 18 more than Peng.
It was a comfortable victory for Bouchard but a much tougher test awaits.
Standing between her and a place in round three is seven-time champions Williams, who was even more efficient in dispatching Tatjana Maria 6-0, 6-2 in just 49 minutes.
Bouchard has lost both of her previous matches against Williams.
Popular Bouchard had many fans in the crowd where a Canadian flag and signs were seen
The two players shook hands at the net after Bouchard secured a meeting with Serena Williams
A smiling Bouchard posed for a selfie with some of her supporters after making easy progress