Raonic, Bouchard still optimistic despite frustrating seasons
TORONTO – Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard were all smiles.
Standing on a makeshift miniature court atop a barge off Toronto’s harbour front, two of Canada’s tennis stars were on display Wednesday to promote the Mini Rogers Cup, a children’s tournament during the pro event next month.
Raonic and Bouchard provided encouraging words to some young players, hammed it up for selfies and joked around as they hit ground strokes.
“What surface is this?” Bouchard asked.
“The barge speciality,” Raonic quipped in between some silly pretend grunts.
They appeared to be having fun – at least more than they’ve had on tour this year.
Both have endured frustrating seasons for different reasons.
“It’s tough to assess,” Raonic said. “Three of the seven big tournaments I’ve played healthy and I’ve done pretty well in them.
“It’s hard to really judge it. I think my numbers, my ranking, will say everything at the end of the year.”
At least Raonic has played well when healthy.
His world ranking reached a career high fourth in May, before foot problems sidelined him for the French Open.
The 24-year-old returned in time for Wimbledon, but was still ailing and lost in the third round to fellow young gun Nick Kyrgios.
Raonic opted to skip Canada’s Davis Cup tie against Belgium to rest up for the hard-court portion of the season.
He plans to resume practising next week to prepare for a return at the Rogers Cup, which begins Aug. 8 in Montreal.
“I’m on a good track,” said the world No. 8. “I’m getting myself in shape. I’ve been working hard on everything that I can do.”
Bouchard, on the other hand, has largely struggled this season.
After reaching two Grand Slam semifinals and the Wimbledon final in 2014, Bouchard started 2015 with a trip to the Australian Open quarters.
But she’s won just four times in 12 tournaments since and fell in the first round at Wimbledon last month to qualifier Ying-Ying Duan – albeit while playing with a torn abdominal muscle.
Bouchard acknowledged that she may need to make some changes to her game.
“This is definitely not how I want to be playing,” she said.
Strong criticism has followed.
Among those to hammer Bouchard was former Canadian women’s star Carling Bassett-Seguso. In an interview with the CBC last month, Bassett-Seguso ripped Bouchard about everything from her on-court etiquette to her decision to part with longtime coach Nick Saviano last November.
Bassett-Seguso was also critical of the technique and tactics Bouchard has used during matches.
(Many of those weighing in on the comments section of the piece didn’t rush to Bouchard’s defence either).
Bouchard, 21, has heard plenty of negativity, but isn’t very concerned.
“I’m definitely hard on myself, so if I do have a bad loss I’m like, ‘Well, I completely deserve this,’” she said. “But there definitely are some harsher critics than others. It’s definitely part of the job so bring it on.”
Her world ranking has plummeted to 26th when it was as high as fifth last October.
“It’s been interesting for me to see how when I started doing well, everyone jumped on the bandwagon, building me up so much, and (now) to see how they break me down so much,” Bouchard said.
“I just separate myself from that. I know what I do and I know what I believe in. It’s hard not to see it or hear it, but to just give it some distance to not really worry about it.”
Bouchard said she’s really working on finding that line between grinding for results and being patient as she aims to resurrect her campaign.
The hard-court season, which includes the Rogers Cup in Toronto, provides an opportunity.
It does for Raonic, too.
After Montreal, Raonic is scheduled to play in Cincinnati the following week as a final tune up for the U.S. Open.
Raonic was a finalist the last time the tournament was in Montreal. He felt that turned his 2013 season around and is hoping for the same outcome this time.
“It would mean a lot. I know the work I’m putting in is good, quality work,” he said. “I don’t know when that’s going to click. Is that going to click at the Rogers Cup? Great.
“I’m just giving myself as much of a chance to prepare for the U.S. Open by making sure I put my nose down and work.”
