Wimbledon’s Princesses of glum...
Disappointed Bouchard: ‘I wish I’d done better for my Royal namesake’
Eugenie watches Eugenie crash at Wimbledon
THERE was no doubt who won the hearts of the Centre Court crowd yesterday – but despite the support of spectators and her Royal namesake, ‘Princess of Wimbledon’ Eugenie Bouchard had to content herself with the runners-up trophy.
The stunning young Canadian – watched by the real Princess Eugenie in the Royal box – lost the Ladies’ Singles final to Petra Kvitova in straight sets.
After the match, 20-year-old Bouchard – whose royalist mother Julie named her and her twin sister after Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and their brother after Prince William – said she wished she could have put on a better performance. Eugenie – who was also supported by sitcom star Jim Parsons from the Big Bang Theory in the players’ box – was blown away by the explosive power of the Czech sixfooter in straight sets.
After the match Bouchard spoke about what it was like being watched on court by her Royal namesake. She said: ‘That was crazy. I did see her in the box. I’m very happy that she came out. Disappointed I couldn’t put on a better show for her, but I’d love to meet her, of course. It’s the only person I’m named after. She’s the only one in the world. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to meet her.’
Throughout the match Bouchard was cheered on by the Princess, who was not as generous in her applause for Kvitova – who previously won the Wimbledon title in 2011.
After a thrilling rally won by Kvitova, the Princess sat with her head in her hands.
Before the match, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘Princess Eugenie has decided to attend Wimbledon today at the last minute. She is going to support Eugenie.’
Afterwards, the spokesman said: ‘Princess Eugenie was delighted to be able to attend the Wimbledon final and see the game. A last-minute change of plans made it possible. HRH sends her congratulations to both players.’
After the game, a crowd gathered in the rain on Murray Mound, shouting, ‘Genie, we still love you.’
Miss Bouchard said: ‘It’s really special to hear that people want me to do well and believe in me. On court today I felt some special support from the crowd. It’s humbling.’
She revealed that in the fiveminute break between losing the match and picking up the runnerup’s trophy, she was made to sit in the room with the engraver. She said: ‘It was cruel, a little odd. I sat down. I put my jacket on. Just reflected. I was in the engraver’s room, so I was watching them work, wishing one day, dreaming that he’ll write my name somewhere.’
She added she was looking forward to eating ‘comfort food... I’ll definitely have dessert tonight. I haven’t had dessert in a while, so I’ll have some brownie or something.’
But despite yesterday’s swift defeat, tennis insiders forecast that the photogenic Ms Bouchard has a golden future and if her tennis keeps improving, she could even outshine Maria Sharapova who is estimated to be worth around £52.5million.