Bouchard ousted down under

Photo: Contributed - AP / Rob Griffith

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard was eliminated from the Australian Open on Tuesday after a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Russia's Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals.

The loss was a disappointment for the Westmount, Que., native after reaching the semifinal a year ago at Melbourne Park.

Bouchard finished with 13 winners and 30 unforced errors on Tuesday, missing on both of her break point chances while dropping serve four times.

Seventh-seeded Bouchard's defeat in 78 minutes was her eighth at a Grand Slam and first of the season after four victories in 2015.

Bouchard started on her back foot, dropping serve in the opening game of the high-profile quarter-final. Bouchard got to work recovering her poise, holding for 1-2 with a winning backhand return.

But Bouchard was never able to close the gap despite forcing Sharapova to save break points in the sixth game. Three games later, Bouchard saved a set point with a winner but lost the set a point later after sending a backhand wide.

Sharapova took a 3-1 lead in the second set after another misplaced backhand by Bouchard.

Sharapova earned a match point from a Bouchard forehand error and landed a winner of her own in the corner to seal the victory and advance to the tournament's semifinal.

Three of the four matches played between Bouchard and Sharapova have come at majors, with the Russian beating Bouchard at the French Open the past two years.

Bouchard is the first Canadian -- female or male -- to play a Grand Slam singles final, losing to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic at Wimbledon last year.