Music: {allcanada} Regal Bouchard aware of style and substance

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

{allcanada} Regal Bouchard aware of style and substance

Fuse (Deluxe Version) - Keith Urban / Blown Away - Carrie Underwood

Paris (AFP) - Canadian starlet Eugenie Bouchard reached the third round of the French Open but admitted her storming rise to fame means she has to be conscious of how she looks as well as how she plays.

The highly-rated 20-year-old, who won her first WTA event last weekend at Nuremberg, saw off Julia Goerges of Germany 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 and now faces Sweden's Johanna Larsson.

Bouchard's blonde hair and good looks have already led to comparisons with Maria Sharapova while on the court, her achievements continue to grow and her career highlight so far came earlier this year when she reached the Australian Open semi-finals.

Her army of fans continues to grow and a group of university students launched the 'Genie Army' which led to her agent making sure her supporters had tickets for matches and the creation of franchises in Montreal, New York, China, Italy and Cape Town.

"The creation of the Genie Army. I think that was a cool thing," she said about her new fan club after beating Goerges.

"At home I get recognised a lot more now, so I have to be careful with what I wear. When I walk out of the house, try to not look too slouchy in my sweat pants.

"But most people are just so nice and say they're proud of me and wish me luck. I just really appreciate that support."

Demands for merchandise and sponsorship deals continue and many have tipped her to break into the top ten by the end of the year.

She was named Eugenie while her twin sister was christened Beatrice, names inspired by her mother's liking for the British royals.

"My mum was probably a little bit royal obsessed," she admitted about her siblings' names which also include a brother named after Prince William and a younger sister called after Princess Caroline of Monaco's daughter Charlotte

"My grandma is Irish. I don't think there is any direct relation with England. Just that they're royalty," she said about the names.

Bouchard is currently ranked 16, was voted WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2013, and jumped 122 spots from the end of 2012 to the end of 2013 -- 144 to 32.

With the women's draw blown wide open following the elimination of defending champion Serena Williams and second seed Li Na of China, the future could be now for Bouchard and the 'Genie Army'.

Crash My Party - Luke Bryan / Night Train - Jason Aldean