LONDON | The last time Eugenie Bouchard played a game in Montreal, the tournament was still called the Rogers Cup and the Quebecer was still dressed in Nike. But now, five years later, “Genie” will be back in the metropolis next August, she told the protocolTuesday.
It was injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic that kept him away from his local tournament for so long, she recalled shortly after her defeat from the first round of Wimbledon qualification.
But obviously the almost 30-year-old Quebecois is keen to be there, even if Montreal has rarely smiled at her (her best result is a third round in 2016). She had lost in the first round the last time she competed, ahead of Belgium’s Elise Mertens, then ranked 15th in the world.
“I’m very happy it’s in Montreal this year because it’s been so long since I’ve played there,” she said with a big smile.
Certainly no tourism in London
Until then, the world’s 228th returns to Florida to train on the hard surface.
Although she loves Wimbledon, she doesn’t plan to stay in London for long.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet, but it’s hard to stay in a tournament you’ve just lost. Let’s say it depends on my mood,” she agreed, grinning.