‘It's good for Canadian tennis’: Bouchard revels in Andreescu blockbuster at Rogers Cup

TORONTO, Canada - In one of the most anticipated first-round clashes of the Rogers Cup, fellow Canadians Eugenie Bouchard and Bianca Andreescu put on a show in front of a sold-out crowd, with the latter emerging victorious, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.  

Despite coming out on the losing side of the two-hour and 11-minute thriller against the BNP Paribas Open champion, Bouchard cut an upbeat figure in her post-match press conference. 

Read more: 'It has been a rollercoaster': Andreescu outlasts Bouchard in all-Canadian clash at Rogers Cup

The former Wimbledon finalist has been battling her way back into form after taking a break from tennis between the Miami Open and Roland Garros to nurse an abdominal injury, and while she’s still seeking her first victory since February, Bouchard told press that she feels the keys are all there. 

“I think it was a solid match from me and the best I've played since I've come back from injury,” she said. “You know, she's 20 in the world. She's a great player. So to battle with her till 6-4 in the third gives me confidence and just motivates me to work even harder.”

The matchup between Bouchard and Andreescu made sports headlines across Canada, which has seen a wealth of young talent coming up through the ranks on both the women’s and men’s tours: coincidentally, the ATP event this week in Montreal also featured an all-Canadian first-round clash between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil. 

“We were actually messaging on Instagram when we found out we played each other, and we were actually saying how cool it is, like, that Felix and Vasek were playing each other first round and then me and her, and that it's good for Canadian tennis,” Bouchard revealed. 

“I was like, ‘Yeah, let's just put a show out there.’ And she was like, ‘Yeah, let's go.’ And I think we did.”

She added, “That was really, really cool to play a fellow Canadian in Canada and to have, you know, a sold-out crowd and to feel the love.”

After the match, Bouchard reflected on a tough season which has seen her struggle with a recurring abdominal injury - and record her ninth consecutive defeat dating back to Dubai.  

In photos: From Dementieva to Halep: A decade of Rogers Cup champions

“I feel like I've matured and just I've put things in perspective a lot more,” Bouchard said. “You know, playing tennis for a living is the most unbelievable thing, and I feel so blessed and lucky in my life. So losing a match is really nothing in the grand scheme of things. 

“And I just really am enjoying it a lot more now, and on the court I'm staying more positive, and I'm fighting, and, you know, that's all I can do. 

“So whatever happens, happens. I have to trust the process.”