Eugenie Bouchard moved to within one win of the main Wimbledon draw after battling past Karolina Muchova 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in the second round of qualifying at Roehampton.
Canadian Bouchard was Wimbledon junior champion in 2012 and runner-up in the women’s singles two years later as she broke into the world’s top five.
However, after plummeting down the rankings to 191st, Bouchard missed out on a wild-card for this year’s tournament at the All England Club.
It looked like the 24-year-old was on course for a comfortable victory after taking the opening set in Wednesday’s second-round qualifying match at the Bank of England Sports Centre.
Czech 21-year-old Muchova then levelled up to put the outcome in the balance, before Bouchard’s experience saw her through on a first match-point chance.
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Bouchard will next face the qualifying tournament’s second seed Mariana Duque-Marino after the Colombian world number 97 defeated Richel Hogenkamp 6-4 6-1.
“I didn’t feel like I was playing all that well, so I am just happy I was able to keep myself collected in the third (set) and find a way,” Bouchard told BBC Sport.
“I would be proud of myself for going through the (qualifying) matches. I have a match tomorrow, that is all I am worried about right now.”
On her journey toward competing at the major events again, Bouchard added: “I have learned a lot and I am just grateful to be able to play tennis.”
