Eugenie Bouchard determined to bounce back in 2019 - Sports News

Eugenie Bouchard admits she has struggled with her motivation for tennis over the last two years, as she has tried to get her career back on track.

The former Wimbledon finalist arrived in New Zealand on Christmas Day, ahead of the 2019 ASB Classic in Auckland, but the circumstances are quite different from her only previous visit five years ago.

Back then she was a highly touted junior on the rise but still a virtual unknown, and ranked No. 147 in the world. It was her first full season as a professional, and though she lost in the first round in Auckland as a wildcard, the subsequent rise was swift.

Bouchard was ranked No. 32 by the end of that year, then hit the headlines the following January with a stunning run to the last four of the Australian Open.

She also made the semi-finals at Roland Garros, then reached the Wimbledon final, topping Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep on the way. A few months past her 20th birthday, Bouchard was the hottest player on tour.

She couldn’t maintain those lofty heights — but remained a top 50 player — until a dramatic fall over the last 18 months.

I believe that the end of 2018 was a little turning point,” said Bouchard. “Now I’m looking forward. I’m really excited to play. I’m really motivated — which is something I have struggled with in the past.”

“It’s not like I didn’t what to play anymore or anything like that, but after having great results and then having not so good results sometimes you are like, ‘OK what’s going on?’ and it’s hard to keep going when you lose, week after week.

“I went through a phase when it was definitely tough, but I knew it was still what I wanted to do, so I kept pushing through it.”

from SPORT 24H news AFL NRL TENNIS FOOTBALL http://bit.ly/2ETIfzx - Sports News

Tweet