THE GENIE SHOW
Montreal welcomes prodigal daughter Bouchard for Fed Cup tie with Romania,
MONTREAL— Nearly 11 full minutes into the Canadian Fed Cup team’s opening news conference Wednesday at the Maurice Richard Arena, a question finally was addressed to someone other than Eugenie Bouchard.
It was a visiting journalist from Romania, inquiring about the Romanian heritage of teammate Sharon Fichman’s parents.
The Genie Show was in full flight, the first time the Montreal media had a chance to see the 21-year-old home girl in the flesh since that bizarre stadium-court defeat to American Shelby Rogers at the Rogers Cup last August.
There have been many unforced errors under the bridge since then for Bouchard, who is in the throes of a season that has included a coaching change, some listless defeats, a series of nagging injuries and many challenges waiting for her when she arrives in Europe next week.
But in a late turn of events, the world No. 7 decided she would take part in this weekend’s World Group I playoff tie against Romania. There’s no place like home, before an adoring crowd that includes friends and family, to make a fresh start.
The full Bouchard entourage was in evidence Thursday: coach Sam Sumyk and conditioning coach Scott Byrnes, the two regular members of her team. New agent Jill Smoller also was on hand, as was mother Julie Leclair.
“First of all, I’ve always, until February, played every Fed Cup I’ve been invited to, and I’ve always been proud to play for my country. I know as well that I have to play one more time in 2015 or 2016 to be eligible for
“I know I have to play one more time to be eligible for the Olympics. The fact (this tie is) in Montreal makes it special.” EUGENIE BOUCHARD
the Olympics. That was part of my decision,” Bouchard said. “The fact that it’s in Montreal, the city I was born in, makes it extra special.”
All that was true two weeks ago, even one week ago. But even though Fed Cup captain Sylvain Bruneau left a spot open on the roster, it seemed certain Bouchard would not play, instead opting to take the time after an opening-match loss at the Charleston, S.C. (a tournament she came close to winning a year ago) to rest, get healthy and re-assess her direction. What changed? “In February (for the tie against the Czechs in Quebec City Bouchard elected not to play), I knew I still had the option to play this time. If I didn’t play this time I would have only two more next year (to ensure Olympic eligibility),” she said. “In February, I thought, ‘You know what? I have time, and I’ll make another decision when it comes.’ But for this tie, I thought, I want to be able to have options next year as well. So I think that was part of it.”
Bouchard appeared relaxed, and gave it full effort during an extended practice session despite still sporting a brace on her right ankle, the remnants of a practice tumble in Charleston 10 days ago.
Captain Bruneau doubtlessly also was more relaxed because without his franchise player, his team was up against it. The Romanian team also is missing its top player, world No. 3 Simona Halep.
“Romania has, I think, four players in the top 100. That’s not the case for Canada, so it’s going to be a very difficult task; even if they don’t have their best players they still have good depth,” Bouchard said.
Also more relaxed? Tennis Canada. Some 500 tickets per day had been sold for the two-day tie as of the announcement of Bouchard’s change of heart Monday. By Wednesday, the total was up to nearly 1,400 per day and with all of the media focus Thursday, those numbers should climb even further.