Eugenie Bouchard was named the Most Improved Player on the WTA tour this year, but the world No. 7 says the increased attention wasn't easy once she reached the Wimbledon final.
“Probably after I got back to Montreal [after Wimbledon, where she lost to Petra Kvitova], it took me a couple of days to get over it and get used to the whole situation—although I’m not sure it’s something you get used to,” she said. “People coming up to you and trying to take your picture. A lot of off-court requests. But I’m not going to complain about it.
“If didn't want attention I would have been a librarian, so I think it's all good. I just need to make sure I know the priority is tennis.”
The 20-year-old reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and then the final of Wimbledon. But after that she appeared fatigued and admitted that she overplayed. She did not beat any of the Top 5 players after July and was blown out at the WTA Finals, where she won none of her three round-robin matches.
Her coach, Nick Saviano, wants her to play less, Bouchard said in a WTA conference call.
“Definitely, I think I’ll play less tournaments next year,” she said. “When you go deeper into the draw, especially at the bigger events, it’s definitely more stressful on the body and the mind.”
“I’ll try not to play back-to-back tournaments on opposite sides of the world. Just try to have a few more weeks throughout the year, a week here and there of practice and getting ready for the following tournament.”