Canada's Eugenie Bouchard has advanced to Sunday’s Telvin Challenger final (file).Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press
Canadian Eugenie Bouchard eliminated top-seeded American Maria Sanchez, 7-5, 6-2 on Saturday to advance to the final of the $50,000 Tevlin Challenger.
The No. 4 seed from Westmount, Que., will meet No. 5 seed Sharon Fichman in the title match Sunday.
Fichman, from Toronto, advanced with a 7-6(1), 7-5 triumph over No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the U.S. in the other semifinal at Rexall Centre.
"Today was definitely the toughest match," said Bouchard, who has won three ITF Pro Circuit titles in 2012, including the $25,000 Granby Challenger. "I knew if I put pressure on her, especially on her forehand a bit — she hits it with a lot of spin — so I was really trying to take that early and I think when I did that I did well."
Fichman twice came back from a break down in the second set to ultimately clinch the win in straights and reach the final of her hometown tournament for the first time.
"It's so nice, I know so many people in the crowd, and I get to stay at home and be with my family and it means a lot to me," Fichman said of playing at home. "It's really nice when you have that support and that comfort of being home, so I'm very excited."
Bouchard has won both of the two finalists' previous meetings, as she eliminated Fichman in the quarter-finals at Saguenay just last week, and in the first round at the Granby Challenger in July.
"This will be the third time in a short while that I've played Sharon, and I want to do the same as I did last week," Bouchard said. "I was pretty aggressive and she's playing aggressive now too, so I think it will be a good match, with both of us trying to go for it, but I'm pretty confident in my shots."