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Sharapova held up by rain as she closes in on victory over Bouchard in French Open 2nd round

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Russia's Maria Sharapova prepares to serve against Canada's Eugenie Bouchard in their second round match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (The Associated Press)

Russia's Maria Sharapova returns the ball to Canada's Eugenie Bouchard during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Thursday, May 30, 2013 in Paris. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (The Associated Press)

Defending champion Maria Sharapova led 19-year-old Eugenie Bouchard of Canada 6-2, 4-2 before rain interrupted their second-round match at the French Open on Thursday.

The 26-year-old Sharapova, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning at Roland Garros last year, secured a break in the fifth game of the second set and held as she closed in on victory.

But play was interrupted late in the next game as rain came down again. Both players sat under umbrellas for a few minutes before walking off. Play was then suspended for the day.

Bouchard, last year's Wimbledon junior champion, traded big shots with Sharapova at the start of the second set, troubling her with some heavy forehands.

Bouchard lost to Alize Cornet in the semifinals of the Strasbourg International last week.