By Canadian Press

Bouchard offers terse post-match interview despite comfortable victory

Jun 26, 2018 | 8:30 AM

LONDON — Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard generated plenty of headlines Tuesday and it wasn’t for her first-round victory in the qualification draw at Wimbledon.

A one-time finalist at the All-England Club, Bouchard gave a terse post-match interview after her 6-0, 6-2 win over Lin Zhu of China. Despite posting a comfortable victory, Bouchard appeared less than enthused and provided pithy answers to the broadcaster’s questions.

A former top-five player, the 24-year-old Canadian has tumbled down the rankings in recent years. Bouchard currently sits at No. 191 on the WTA Tour list.

It wasn’t immediately clear why Bouchard seemed so displeased. Online reaction was swift after the video clip of the 35-second interview started making the rounds on social media.

The New York Post’s online headline read: “Eugenie Bouchard doesn’t seem happy after rare victory.”

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The Independent said Bouchard’s answers were “curt,” adding in a Twitter post that the “icy post-match interview raises eyebrows.”

Another London-based outlet, Metro News, described the interaction as “frosty.”

In the clip, which aired live on Eurosport 2, the interviewer started by congratulating Bouchard on the win and asking for her assessment of the victory.

“Thank you, yeah, it was pretty solid,” Bouchard replied.

A question about whether she was pleased with her start of the match garnered a brief reply.

“Really happy. It’s important on grass to start well,” Bouchard said.

An answer on the impact of coach Robert Lansdorp was just as short.

“He’s been really helpful. I think he’s a good coach,” Bouchard said.

The toughest question was saved for last. The interviewer noted that Wimbledon was obviously a special place for Bouchard, since she had played for a championship in the past.  

“How hard is it having been in a final here to come back and to have to go through qualifying?” the interviewer asked.

“It’s not hard at all,” Bouchard said. “I’m happy to be here.”

The interviewer thanked Bouchard, who quickly nodded and walked off the side court.

“Well you probably noticed as she walked over, she was not keen to do the interview,” the host broadcaster said.

Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., has been forced to enter qualifying draws or use wild-card entries at some tournaments this season due to her poor ranking. She has yet to beat a top-75 opponent this season.

Bouchard will face world No. 219 Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the next round. A third-round qualification victory would get Bouchard a spot in the main draw of the Grand Slam event, set to begin Monday. 

In other women’s first-round qualifying matches, Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., advanced with a 6-2, 6-0 win over American Grace Min while Montreal’s Francoise Abanda dropped a 7-5, 6-4 decision to Germany’s Antonia Lottner. Italy’s Deborah Chiesa topped No. 20 Carol Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont., 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

In men’s second-round qualifying play, Montreal’s Brayden Schnur cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Argentina’s Andrea Collarini and eighth-seeded Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., defeated Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-5, 6-2. 

Organizers were expected to unveil the singles draws Friday.

World No. 26 Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., and No. 32 Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., are on the men’s singles entry list with No. 93 Vasek Pospisil of Vancouver.

Raonic pulled out of last week’s Queen’s Club tournament due to a right pectoral strain but appears primed to return at Wimbledon.

Competition continues at the Grand Slam event through July 15.

The Canadian Press

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