Singapore delight for tennis stars

She was in Singapore in January to help launch the Road to Singapore for the Women’s Tennis Association Finals — and Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard is clearly delighted to be back. The 20- year- old arrived as one of the top eight players in the world to make her debut in the prestigious year- end event, which is being held in Asia- Pacific for the first time.

Seated at the exact table in the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands where she was at the start of this year, Bouchard exclaimed that it was “the craziest thing” to return. “I don’t know who believed that I would be here in October, but… being here in January motivated me so much,” she recalled. “It was an amazing city and seeing the glamorous side of what the finals are inspired me so much to try and make it here.

“In the back of my mind, ( I was) thinking that it would be so cool to go to Singapore twice in one year.”

Third- time finalist, Serbian Ana Ivanovic, is also similarly enamoured with our sunny shores — although she did gripe a little about the weather. “I actually really enjoy the city — except that it’s a little bit too humid [ and] it’s very hot!” she laughed. “I think it’s a great city and definitely growing. I was here a few years ago and it’s changed a lot. I didn’t have time to see much this time around, but hopefully later during the week I'll have more time to experience it.”