Not sure what it is, but Eugenie Bouchard is a fan favourite in the land down under where the “Roo’s” take to the side roads as easy as Eugenie swings a racquet.
She is clearly one of the true Canadian’s that has won over the hearts of everyone and it could be summed up that it might just be her smile or her open approach to the fans.
Regardless of what it might be, she needed only 54 minutes to eliminate Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-0, 6-3 to reach the third round at the Australian Open.
Bouchard played her second consecutive match under the lights at Margaret Court Arena, in which she seemed to be relentless on her delivery.
The tournament’s seventh seed was facing Bertens for the first time in her career and wasted no time imposing her will on her opponent.
“I think I put a lot of pressure on her,” Bouchard said. “I probably forced her to make some errors. I am happy with the way I was moving forward and controlling the points, I know this is how I have to play.”
Bouchard hit 20 winners compared to just seven by Bertens and limited her unforced error count to 14.
The 20-year-old will next go up against fellow young gun Caroline Garcia. Ranked no. 36 in the world, Garcia upset Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the opening round.
She has won her only previous meeting against Bouchard last year in the Acapulco quarter-finals.
On the men’s side, Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil and Milos Raonic of Thornhill play their second round matches at the event.
Pospisil will face Paolo Lorenzi of Italy on Court 13 while Raonic will take on American Donald Young during the night session, also at Margaret Court Arena.
Congrats for making Canada proud!!