Eugenie Bouchard has Wimbledon "mob of love" on her side after plummeting down rankings from fifth to 188th
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Eugenie Bouchard declared: “Being Genie is great” after winning on her return to the Grand Slams and getting “mobbed”.
The 2014 French Open finalist missed that event last month, and had to come through Wimbledon qualifying after falling down the world rankings to 188th.
But the Canadian showed glimpses of the form which took her to world No.5 as she beat British wildcard Daniella Taylor 6-0 4-6 6-3 on a vocal Court 14.
“I felt great support,” she said. “I saw a lot of Canadian flags. I got mobbed after the match, pretty much. But it's a mob of love, so I liked it.”
(Image: Getty)
Bouchard settled a legal case against the United States Tennis Association earlier this year after slipping and suffering a head injury in the changing rooms at the 2015 US Open.
She dropped out of the world's top 100 for the first time since 2013 before suffering another abdominal injury and then failed to qualify for the French Open.
“I have learned that life is great,” she said. “Being Genie is great. Tennis is so fun, and I'm lucky to do it as my job.
“I definitely think I have improved over the past couple months.
(Image: AFP/Getty)
“I wasn't able to play tournaments for a little bit, which was super frustrating, but it almost motivated me more as soon as I came back. I feel good right now, and I want to just keep improving.
“I feel a lot more comfortable on the court. I feel a little bit more like myself. I have always deep down had the belief, and it's about, in the tough moments of the match, keeping that belief. I have that more and more now. Just trying to keep progressing.”
British No.6 Taylor, who was making her Wimbledon debut, said: It was incredible experience. It was a tough loss but I'm very happy with the home crowd support of me out there. It was great.”