Playing Challenger events proves Genie Bouchard's hunger and humility—and can help her bounce back to the Top 30, says Hall of Famer Chrissie Evert.
In a conference call with the media today to promote ESPN's first ball to last coverage of the US Open, which starts on Monday, Evert said Bouchard is capable of returning to the Top 30 though she doubts the 123rd-ranked Canadian will regain the Top 5 spot she attained in 2014.
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"I don't think she can get back to where she was, but I don't doubt that she can get back to top 30," Evert told the media. "I don't see why not. She's proven that she has the game to be dangerous when it's on, but the problem is it really hasn't been a consistently the game that she has three, four years ago."
The 24-year-old Bouchard beat compatriot Carol Zhao, 6-0, 6-1, in her US Open qualifying opener yesterday. It was Bouchard's first US Open match since the USTA settled her lawsuit for negligence after she suffered a concussion from a fall in the US Open locker room.
Because Bouchard plays an ultra-aggressive baseline style, footwork and movement are vital to taking the ball on the rise.
"Her game is to be aggressive, to hit the ball. She's got to work on her moving, to be in position to hit the ball," Evert said. "She's got to work on consistency, and she's getting the matches that she needs right now, and she's gaining more and more confidence. She's on the right track, and I do not doubt that she could be in the top 30. I think she's learned a lot. I think she's learned a lot through this adversity the last few years."
After an abysmal stretch, Bouchard began working with legendary coach Robert Lansdorp and showed signs of life qualifying for Wimbledon where she fell to 17th-seeded Ashleigh Barty. Bouchard produced her best result of the season with a semifinal run in Gstaad last month and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Vancouver Challenger last week.
ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert, who coached Andre Agassi when he dropped down to play the Challenger circuit, said Bouchard can build confidence by winning in tennis' minor leagues.
"It's building blocks. Win some Challengers, win some small events, get some confidence, and then when you move back up, you're in position to do some things," Gilbert said. "I always find that when players drop, men or women, whoever it is, they measure you for what you did before, how quickly can you be back to that, and sometimes that's a tough obstacle."
Opponents solved Bouchard's style and have played patient tennis to draw errors from the hard hitter. Evert said Bouchard must develop a Plan B and eliminate the errors that bring her down.
"In the beginning when she came up, nobody knew how she played, nobody saw the patterns. Now everybody knows," Evert said. "And a player gets a reputation. And I think when these players now or in the past have gone on the court with Genie the last three years, they have a sense that if she can just keep the ball in play and be consistent, Genie is going to make the error, and sure enough, she's been making a lot of errors the last three years.
"Now she makes twice as many errors as winners. If she can be more consistent and clean up her game, clean up the errors a little bit more, I think that's going to help with her reputation. I think that players will go on the court thinking, oh, my God, I've got to win this point from her because she's not going to give me anything. She's given away too many free points the last three years, so I think that's one area she can work on."
Photo credit: Christopher Levy