“10s Whenever” Newsletter Vol. 112

Written by: Staff on 21st January 2014

"10s Whenever" Newsletter Vol. 112

epa04033638 Eugenie Bouchard of Canada holds a Wombat doll as she celebrates after winning her quarterfinal match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2014. EPA/MAST IRHAM |

Aussie Open Teen Semifinalist Bouchard Not Surprised By Rapid Rise

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By Matt Cronin, TennisReporters.net

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Canada’s Genie Bouchard won the junior Wimbledon title in 2012, but is not surprised that she is already in an adult Grand Slam semifinal.

She feels like she progresses every day, every week, every month. She came into the Australian Open ranked No. 30 and has knocked of one veteran after another including former No, 1 Ana Ivanovic 5-7 7-5 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

She almost never gives up her on court position. She always seems to be going forward. She isn’t wild but hits hard off both wings. She has a very strong first serve and competes like hell. She may appear to be a just another pretty blonde to some (like the Aussie based Genie’s Army) who have never met her off court, but she talks and acts like a standard super jock. Tennis is her life; not only does she plays she watches a lot of pro tennis in her spare time.

She is no nonsense player and appears to be a no non-sense person. She sees her rapid rise as part of the plan and not very surprising at all.

“When I played the juniors, I was 18, so I still felt a little bit of pressure being kind of older and still playing in the juniors,” she said. “But that was my choice. I still think I did well winning a [junior] Slam. But it’s definitely another level in the pros, definitely mentally tougher I think. But I think winning junior Wimbledon gave me a lot of confidence. Right away I transitioned into the pros really well. A year and a half is a long time, too. It’s not something that surprises me.”

Bouchard might not be surprised but it’s very rare for teens to make a major impression at Slams these days. Sloane Stephens did as a 19-year-old last year and now one of her peers has accomplished it. Madison Keys, who is a year younger than Bouchard, is not ready yet, nor is Bouchard’s good friend Laura Robson.

Bouchard has a good disposition and isn’t easily rattled, even after Ivanovic banged away at her during the first set.

I tried to stay calm. I tried to for sure show I was calm.” she said. “I did feel confident. Having lost the first set and things like that, I just tried to focus on what I had to do during the point to try to win, really just try to keep pressing her and moving forward. That’s what kept me really calm. I felt like my game kind of got a bit better as the match went on. I feel like in the first set I was close, but I was kind of missing shots just by a little bit, hitting the tape of the net, just a bit out. I felt like my game was there and I just needed to relax a little bit and play.”

With her victory over Ivanovic on the raucous Rod Laver Arena and her fourth round win over home countrywoman Casey Dellacqua on the same court, Bouchard has shown she’s ready for the big stage. But as good as she’s been, she is going to have to take big step up to best her semifinal foe, Li Na, who has been on fire her last two matches and smoked Flavia Pennetta 6-2 6-2 in their quarterfinal. Li has reached two Aussie Open finals before and seems overdue for a title.

Li is a better player than Ivanovic and will be a bigger challenge for Bouchard, but there are times when China’s top player loses focus, which could make her vulnerable to an upset.

“She’s a great champion,” Bouchard said. “She’s won a Slam. It’s going to be really tough. I played her once in Montreal two years ago. We had a close match. But it was one of my first bigger matches. It will be interesting to play her. I know she’s very solid, very good from the back. It’s going to be hard, but I’m looking forward to it.”

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