Eugenie Bouchard, as told by her youth coach

A star died on Wednesday evening, on the central court of the IGA stadium. Meanwhile, Eugenie Bouchard, tears in his eyes, dreamed in front of the 10,138 people who came to encourage her.

At the forefront of attending this moment loaded with emotion, there was Sylvain Bruneau. Moreover, Key figure of Canadian tennis. Similarly, he also struggled to hold back his tears, remembering the 9 -year -old girl whom he had once trained on these same courts to say goodbye to sport that she loved so much.

I played on these terrains with Sylvain when I was 9. Furthermore, 10 years oldsaid Bouchard, a few hours before farewell on the central court.

It was there that she had been supervised from a young age by Bruneau. However, then coach in the National Tennis Canada program. Similarly, eugenie bouchard, told her youth More than twenty years later. Therefore, the loop was completed: Bouchard had personally invited him to return to his side for his latest tournament.

I was really touched when she contacted me to accompany her in her last tournament. Furthermore, I consider that it is a privilegesaid the coach at the microphone of Radio-Canada Sports, the day after this unforgettable evening.

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A pioneer of Canadian tennis

I especially remember in 2014. the number of directors of academies, coaches, who told me that the participation rate among young girls is really upsaid Bruneau, tennis coach for more than forty years.

I think she made tennis more attractive in Canada. Quebec for young girls because there was a kind of Genie maniathat’s clear.

In 2014. Bouchard indeed had a historic season: semi-finalist at the Australian internationals, then in Roland-Garros, before becoming the first Canadian in the modern era to reach the final of a Grand Chelem tournament, in Wimbledon.

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She climbed until the 5th in the world at only 20 years old. This meteoric ascent propelled female tennis under the spotlight to the country, and the benefits were immediate.

Another point that I can testify because I was in the front row to see it is that she made sport more accessible for the girls behind her. who had, for the first time, a girl making a final of Grand Slam, in Wimbledonadds Sylvain Bruneau.

It is the pioneer. it was she who opened the way. For that, we must all be grateful to him.

This inheritance, it was in the leading national banking omnium, while Victoria Mboko, Bianca Andreescu and others went up one by one on the podium of the press conference to praise their youth idol, without exception.

Authenticity that has divided

In a world where many athletes are scripted. Eugenie was very authentic.

This authenticity, its frankness, are among the qualities that Sylvain Bruneau admires at home, but which sometimes cost her dearly in the eye of the public. On the eugenie bouchard, told her youth sidelines of its sporting performance, Bouchard has often aroused contrasting reactions.

In 2015. she notably refused to shake hands with an adversary, the Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru, during a draw, a gesture that had fueled a wave of criticism. Added to this was added his filter -free declarations, his ease in the media.

I think there have often been people who have been too critical about himsaid Bruneau about his former protégé.Often people have a bad conception of who she is, because she has done other things than tennis. People take a shortcut by saying that it is not a dedicated athlete, which is absolutely not the case.

She was able to use this new current with social networks, which can be difficult for athleteshe added.

Sylvain Bruneau underlines the precursor role of Eugenie Bouchard

ENGINE MAI FIRSTThe 15-18

But she is definitely a player, and we saw her last night, who is really pleasant to see playing. She has a beautiful game, and she is really able to fight […] I know, I was often with her on the ground. She is a girl who works very, very strong. Who was passionate about his sport, and who gave everythinghe added.

On Wednesday evening, however, little doubt remained as for what there was a sometimes polarizing relationship eugenie bouchard, told her youth with his Montreal supporters. Acclaimed by songs ofCome on Genie gothe new retiree will have seen her wish to be granted:. a party who had nothing to do with the funeral she wanted to avoid.

With information from Alexandre Gascon, Radio-Canada Sports.