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Eugenie Bouchard 2017
Tennis News

Bouchard: 2016 not a disaster


Bouchard had reached a Wimbledon final and had her sights set on a permanent place in the top echelons of the WTA Tour.

But fast forward just over two years and the 22-year-old finds herself heading into 2017 just inside the top 50 in the world rankings.

But this Genie isnā€™t hoping for any magic wishes. Instead, sheā€™s focused on keeping a lid on her emotions and seeing the wider perspective.

ā€œI mean I feel like Iā€™ve had a pretty average season, I wasnā€™t that good but Iā€™m still top 50 in the world. I do expect much more than that but at the same time I do have to realise that itā€™s not a disaster,ā€ she said of her 2016 campaign.

ā€œI think itā€™s bad but if I look at the grand scheme of things 50 in the world out of sevenĀ billion people is good.Ā I need to keep working, itā€™s good that I expect a lot but also I canā€™t be too hard on myself and put too much pressure on myself.ā€

After taking a few weeks off, Bouchard returned to competition in Linz, and despite struggling through 7-6(5) 6-4Ā first round defeat to Anett Kontaveit,Ā still found room for optimism.

ā€œI was expecting disastrous tennis if Iā€™m honest. Itā€™s tough even taking time off and practising but nothing is quite the same as a real match,ā€ she said. Ā ā€œI wanted to come and play [in Linz] because itā€™s the end of the season and to try and have one last effort because no matter what I enjoy competition.ā€

Looking back at her season in more detail, Bouchard pointed to her win second round win against home favourite Jo Konta at Wimbledon as a highlight, as the Canadian silenced the home crowd with a display reminiscent of her run to the final two years previously.

ā€œI had two or three really good matches, that one [against Konta at Wimbledon] was definitely one, also the match against [Dominika] Cibulkova in Montreal was really good.Ā But again on the flip side Iā€™ve had some matches I really should not have lost which is where I really didnā€™t perform well.Ā I feel like I served well all year, but I kept getting behind in the rallies far too often and thatā€™s just not my game.ā€

Going forward the aim for Bouchard was clear. Ā ā€œMore consistency,ā€ she said.Ā ā€œBut weā€™ll have to wait for 2017 for that to come.ā€

 


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.