Eugenie Bouchard thinks she has a chance of upsetting Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Sharapova is 3-0 in their head-to-head meetings, but the Canadian took her to a third set in the semifinals at the French Open, losing 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Sharapova eventually won the title.
"I kind of just remember a grind," Bouchard said. "I didn't feel like I was playing great tennis the whole time. Sometimes here and there. But that's what it's about: Trying to win and trying to always play better, get through it, even if you're not playing your best. I felt like I was close with her. She probably wasn't—we were both maybe a bit off. You're never really playing amazing. Maybe 10 percent of the year. I was pretty disappointed after, so that's motivating."
Even though Bouchard played very well from the start of January through early July last year, reaching the semis of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, as well as the finals of Wimbledon, she slipped after that. However, she says she is feeling very good this week.
"I think it's always great to play the best players in the world," Bouchard said. "I was close. It was just a tough battle. But I think I've progressed a lot since then, I definitely want to keep playing my game no matter what. Really kind of take it to her, go for my shots."
Sharapova hasn't won the Australian Open since 2008, but the 27-year-old believes she can do it again. She reached the final in 2012 and the semifinals in 2013, but last year she was upset in the fourth round by Dominika Cibulkova upset her in the fourth round.
Sharapova said that's she has been watching Bouchard’s progress.
"She's been playing really well in this tournament and also in the Slams the last year," Sharapova said. "Really confident tennis and inspired form. I expect her to come out and play a really good match.
"[France] was a really tough match for me. I had to come back from being down one set to love... She's a pretty aggressive player. She stays really close to the line, she likes to dictate the points. I feel that's where she's hurt a lot of players and been really successful."