PARIS – Eugenie Bouchard’s disappointing season continues after a first-round exit at the French Open.
The sixth-seeded Canadian was stunned 6-4, 6-4, by France’s Kristina Mladenovic.
Bouchard showed some fight, battling back from 5-0 down in the second set. But her comeback started too far too late.
READ MORE: Bouchard to play for Canada at Fed Cup
The Westmount, Que., native reached the semifinal at Roland Garros last year in a breakout season that also saw her advance to the Wimbledon final and the semifinals at the Australian Open.
This year has been the complete opposite for Bouchard, who has struggled after reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.
Bouchard has lost seven of her last eight matches, and most of the defeats have been to players well below her in the WTA rankings.
READ MORE: Eugenie Bouchard crushes competition at Australia Open
Earlier, Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil was eliminated after a first-round loss to Joao Sousa of Portugal.
The 53rd-ranked Canadian fell in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-1.
Pospisil committed 45 unforced errors to Sousa’s 16.
The 50th-ranked Sousa converted seven of 14 break chances while Pospisil was 2-for-5.
Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., Canada’s top male singles player, is missing the tournament after recent foot surgery.
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