Genie Bouchard to play US Open qualifying rounds

Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard will be in action in the first round of US Open qualifying, which begins August 23, as she seeks to make her first Grand Slam main draw appearance in more than two years.

Bouchard, 28, only recently returned to action at the Odlum Brown VanOpen in Vancouver last week after a 17-month injury layoff that required right shoulder surgery. Her comeback ended on a sour note, as the wildcard won only four games against World No. 166 Arianne Hartono in the WTA 125 Series tournament.

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Ranked 964th in the world rankings, Bouchard is unseeded and has entered the US Open qualifying tournament on a protected ranking. The Canadian will take on Japan's Yuki Naito in the first round.

Should she qualify for the final Grand Slam of the season, the 2014 Wimbledon finalist will have her task cut out as she hasn't advanced past the fourth round in seven of her previous appearances at Flushing Meadows. Bouchard has fallen at the opening hurdle in three of her last four appearances at the tournament.

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It remains to be seen if the Canadian - short of match practice for a year and a half - will be able to navigate the qualifying draw unscathed. If she's able to rediscover her old game, Bouchard will fancy her chances of an upset or two in the main draw.