INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Eugenie Bouchard beat Japanese qualifier Risa Ozaki 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday night to close out first-round women's play in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Bouchard, a 22-year-old Canadian who is trying to recapture the form that carried her to No. 5 in the world late in 2014, battled with her own inconsistency throughout the match, but won on her first match point when Ozaki hit a backhand just long.
Bouchard, No. 42 this week, will face 21st-seeded Sloane Stephens of the U.S. in the second round.
American Ryan Harrison beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-3, 7-6 (3) in their first-round match.