"I thought I was playing Serena" - Bouchard details return to tennis
WTA
Eugenie Bouchard returned to tennis in the closing months of last season after being absent for 17 months, and she spoke about that in a recent interview.
Bouchard burst onto the scene as a young player. After reaching the Australian Open and French Open semifinals, she was the runner-up at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships to Petra Kvitova and became a fan favorite during the tournament.
The Canadian was just 20 years old when she achieved that achievement, which made many believe she would win multiple Grand Slams. However, she has not reached those heights again, struggling with confidence and consistency.
It seemed like Bouchard might be finding some form again after she reached a WTA 250 final in Mexico in March 2021. Sadly, that was immediately followed by the 28-year-old sustaining a severe shoulder injury, which sidelined her for 17 months.
Bouchard returned in August last year. The former Wimbledon finalist's star quality meant she received a wild card into some high-profile events, including the WTA 1000 tournament in Guadalajara.
The Canadian's hopes of starting the season strongly were disrupted when she had to withdraw from the ASB Classic in Auckland due to illness. However, she has a long season ahead of her to find form.
Bouchard recently discussed how challenging it was to return from 17 months out last year. She humorously said that playing a girl ranked 200 felt like competing against Serena Williams because of how fast the ball felt.
"My first, first match, I felt like the ball was coming at me so fast. I was playing a girl ranked 200, and obviously no disrespect to her, but I literally thought I was playing Serena. Her ball was coming so fast at me, I was like, ‘Oh my God.’— Bouchard recalls first match back<br>
"I played three months straight from August until November, and I didn’t have any issues with my shoulder. After playing a lot, sometimes you’ll get a little bit tight, but it’s very normal and expected. I’m really looking forward to a full 2023 schedule."
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