2015 Preview: WTA No. 7, Eugenie Bouchard

It’s tough to find fault with what Eugenie Bouchard has accomplished at age 20. She’s been a Wimbledon  finalist, a semifinalist at the Australian Open and French Open, and a Top 10 player. She plays an intelligent, ambitious game that’s beyond both her years and her natural ball-striking talent. There’s obviously substance beneath her hype.

Yet all of her achievements so far have come with the benefit of low expectations. How will she do now that the expectations are sky high? Last August, The New York Times Magazine put her on its cover, under the headline: Eugenie Bouchard could be the future of women’s tennis. All she has to do is win.

Did we see the start of a sophomore slump at the WTA Finals, where Bouchard was blown off the court? She’s probably too heady a player to take a nosedive in 2015, but the next step, beating the world’s best, may be one she’s not quite ready to take.

Nobody loves a challenge like Genie, and she responds well to them. So you would think that her dismal  end-of-year performance in Singapore would inspire her to work on her weaknesses—in particular her serve—in the off-season. If any of the other big names falter at the majors, the resilient Bouchard will likely be there to take advantage.

The dreaded sophomore slump. Bouchard, whose serve can be suspect and who isn’t the smoothest of  hitters, can go off the rails, and the pressure for “the future of women’s tennis” to stay on them will be intense. A temporary step back wouldn’t be surprising.

Bouchard says she wants it all now: Big wins, major titles, a top ranking and stardom. But with bigger hitters still in front of her, the 20-year-old may have to wait her turn for a year or two.

For more 2015 season previews, click here.