Bouchard retires hurt at Eastbourne, sending Bencic to quarters

Belinda Bencic reached her second grass-court quarter-final of the summer on Wednesday, with the Swiss teenager advancing 6-4, 3-0 as opponent Eugenie Bouchard retired injured in Eastbourne.

Bouchard, the seventh-seeded Canadian whose prospects for repeating her Wimbledon final of a year ago are looking exceedingly dim, lasted 54 minutes before calling for the trainer to treat an apparent abdominal injury.

The Canadian could now face a fitness race before the Monday start at the All England club.

After a consultation, Bouchard retired to send Bencic into a Thursday contest against the winner from Spanish 14th seed Garbine Muguruza and Briton Johanna Konta.

Bouchard reached three Grand Slam semi-finals in 2014 but has now lost 11 of her last 13 matches in a slump dating back to mid-March.

Bencic, meanwhile, reached the final on grass in the Netherlands 10 days ago, losing to Camila Giorgi.
She broke Bouchard three times as the Canadian suffered at Devonshire Park.

"I'm not very happy with how the match ended, I wish Eugenie well in time for Wimbledon," said the 31st-ranked winner. "But of course I'm glad to reach the quarters.

"I was very nervous at the start of the match and I didn't play my best today. My serve helped me out and got me some free points.

"In the second set I relaxed and played well. I can be very nervous sometimes but I try not to show it on court. I'm getting better now at winning the tight matches."

Bencic is playing Eastbourne for a second year after losing in the opening round in 2014.
Source: AFP