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SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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LONDON – Four years ago, Canada's Genie Bouchard was a mainstay in the main interview room at the All England Club as she made a dream run to the Wimbledon championship match.

But since then there’s been more lows than highs in her career and after Bouchard's second-round loss to No. 17 Ashleigh Barty on Thursday, her media session was scheduled for one of the smaller rooms with no television coverage. 

A group of about 20 journalists crammed into the boardroom setting to hear from the current World No. 188. Bouchard, recently sidelined by an abdominal injury, spoke about her dramatic decline in recent years and why she's now optimistic about the future. 

The following is an abridged transcript of the news conference: 

Q: What did you think of the level out there and how you played? 

BOUCHARD: "I think I played an opponent who is playing really well right now – especially on this surface. I think she has a great game for grass so I knew I was coming up against something tough. I’m disappointed because I felt like I had chances in both sets and I think I played well, but I know I can play better.”

Q: What did you show yourself at the qualification tournament and then here?

BOUCHARD: “I was just so excited to play matches. I’ve been sitting on the sidelines for a couple months and it’s always tough coming back, so to get some wins right away, coming back is definitely giving me confidence looking forward.” 

Q: Any regrets on the second set and the 4-1 lead?

BOUCHARD: "It was a couple tough games. I wish maybe at 5-3 I just took a little more time and focused on my serve to maybe try to put some better first serves in. But I was trying to be aggressive and she came up with some good shots, some tricky shots and that was to be expected as well. But I gave everything."

Q: What has it been like working with coach Robert Lansdorp, who’s coached so many great players and is known to be a little bit gruff with a soft heart underneath? 

BOUCHARD: "Yeah, I’ve really enjoyed, so far, my time with Robert and I’m grateful he made the trip all the way out here. We’re far from [his home in] L.A. I think he just has so much experience. I trust everything he says and he’s definitely helped me."

Q: What would be one or two things he’s helped you with?

BOUCHARD: "We’ve worked on my strokes, every stroke in the game and the mental aspect, the confidence aspect. He really believes in me and that helps me believe in myself."

Q: You’re grateful to be playing, but is that enough for you? Going forward do you need to be top-20, top-50 for your own satisfaction?

BOUCHARD: "I just want to be as good as I can be, you know? Whatever that number ends up being. Right now, I’m looking forward to playing more matches. I want to play a lot coming up now that I’m healthy."

Q: Do you still believe you can get back to grand slam semifinals and finals? That level?

BOUCHARD: "Of course I do, yes."

Q: What’s your schedule in the days ahead?

BOUCHARD: “I’m going to stay in Europe. I might play a Challenger next week. I have Gstaad after that. I want to try and play every single week.” 

Q: How do you get over an abdominal strain?

BOUCHARD: “It’s a tricky injury, because you use it in everything you do so you really have to stop everything to let it heal and that really puts you behind everyone else who’s continuing to practise and play matches. That’s why coming back is so tough. But, yeah, a lot of treatment, strengthening, stretching – all of that fun stuff.” 

Q: A tough stretch, but you’re only 24, you have a lot of time. Do you feel that?

BOUCHARD: "Thank you. Yeah, of course I do. You know, it’s the middle of my career, maybe, I don’t know how to define it. Definitely not nearly the end of my career, which some people think it is. I’m here to stay, like it or not."

 

 

Q: Your social media posts about the ball boy have had some interesting reactions. Have you reflected on that? There’s been criticism on social media of you calling him out for not being properly dressed and perhaps it had been a male player and a ball girl it may have even been considered inappropriate. 

BOUCHARD: “I just post what I experience and think and see. I noticed it on the court and it was right there. There was no way you could not see it so, um, yeah, I thought it was funny. I mean, it happens to everyone.”

Q: What is your satisfaction level with your results here?

BOUCHARD: “I’m proud to be able to get some wins especially right after the injury. Like I said, it’s really hard to come back so that’s the big thing. But, really, just to play matches. I know I have so much I need to work on and you can practise all you want, but there’s nothing like real matches. I’m just grateful to do my job and play.” 

Q: You mentioned that some people think it’s the end of your career. Are you motivated to prove these people wrong? 

BOUCHARD: “I don’t really care about that kind of outside noise. Obviously, sometimes there’s just no way to avoid it, but I’m just doing it for myself. I love tennis. I love competing and I proved to myself I can get back on the right track recently. There’s a long way to go, but I’m happy to be here.”

Q: Aside from bring healthy, what would you consider a successful rest of the year? 

BOUCHARD: “Getting my ranking up. Qualies are a grind. I don’t want to put a number [on it], I have no idea. I can’t predict the future, but I want to play matches, get tougher in matches and hopefully pull out some wins and just get back to a ranking closer to what I think I should be.”

Q: In some ways, is qualifying even tougher than main draw tennis? 

BOUCHARD: “Look, in the top 100, maybe even 200, the difference in level is small. I mean, we’ve seen so many upsets here even in the past few days. The margin is so small that I think it’s very mental and it’s almost like anyone can beat anyone on any given day, so qualies aren’t guaranteed. Lots of seeds lost in qualifiers and it just shows how tough it is with the depth of the women’s game. I took those matches just as seriously as these matches in the main draw. It’s so tough and it’s so important and, for me, I just want to play matches and I got them.”

Q: Why do you think there’s so much interest from journalists despite your current ranking?

BOUCHARD: “Well, it’s nice to see you all (laughter). I think we should’ve been in a bigger room, because this is kind of weird. Yeah, I think they’re just here doing their job. Maybe it’s been so long since they’ve spoken to me, because I haven’t been in this situation recently, but it’s part of it.” 

Q: Psychologically does the drop in rankings impact you? More pressure? Less pressure? 

BOUCHARD: “Obviously, it’s tough seeing a really low number next to your name, but I try not to focus too much on that, because deep down I know my level. If I continue to progress I know the level I’m capable of. So, in a way, I’m like the underdog right now so it’s a different mentality and might as well play with nothing to lose while I have it. I’m just trying to get better.”

Q: If you were talking now to a 19-year-old, 20-year-old who was having success, getting endorsements, is there any advice you would give them to try and help their career given what’s happened to you?

BOUCHARD: “I would just say, ‘Enjoy it. It’s a wild ride. Enjoy those big moments, because, no matter what, no one can take it away from you.’ Yeah, it’s just so cool what I do so just, ‘Enjoy the moment.’”