EUGENIE BOUCHARD showed those accused of cheating don’t always win by landing her first ever win over Maria Sharapova in a Madrid Open grudge match laced with tension over the Canadian’s outspoken comments over Sharapova’s return to the sport after a 15-month doping ban.

Bouchard blasted the red carpet treatment laid out to Sharapova with a series of wildcards to big events last week, calling her “a cheater” and claiming a life ban should have been imposed on the Russian for testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.

And she blasted her off the court in the Spanish capital 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in a thrilling near three-hour contest with a performance reminiscent of the form that made her the sport’s golden girl three years ago.

Sharapova struck first in a topsy-turvy first set with a searing forehand down the line to lead 4-2. However, Bouchard, who admitted to being extra motivated to face her fallen idol, wasn’t bowed and broke twice in a three game run to serve for the set at 5-4.

Sharapova upped her intensity once more to break back to 15, but a marathon 18-point 11th game tipped the balance of the first set Bouchard’s way when Sharapova fired long and Bouchard served it out 7-5.

If Sharapova wasn’t angered enough by being dragged through the mud, losing just her second set in 10 against Bouchard did the trick.(SD-Agencies)