She lost semi-final Down Under but teenage tennis sensation Bouchard is poised to take Sharapova's crown and make millions
- The Canadian teenager has stunned tennis fans at her fourth Grand Slam
- Reached the semi-finals at Australian Open before losing to Li Na
- Has her own dedicated band of supporters called the Genie Army
- Grew up in Montreal - where she still lives - and speaks English and French
- Is tipped to outdo tennis glamour girl Maria Sharapova in sponsorship
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Rising star: Eugenie Bouchard poses at an event during Wimbledon last year
Meet the new golden girl of tennis. Nineteen-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard has shot to stardom following her stunning performances at this year’s Australian Open tournament, and those in the know say the gifted blonde teenager has the potential to be the face of tennis for years to come.
In just her fourth Grand Slam tournament, Bouchard, the 30th seed and 2012 junior Wimbledon winner, swept all before her before going down to Li Na in the semi-finals.
She now has her own dedicated band of supporters – known as the Genie Army – and the marketing men are jostling with one another to secure lucrative sponsorship deals.
Her agent, Sam Duvall, has no doubts as to how far she can go – he is tipping her to become the most famous player in the world.
'She's got the personality, she's got the game, she's got the looks,' Duvall says. 'She speaks two languages [French and English] and the crossover appeal is great. Aussie fans love her, French fans love her… she is very rare, let’s put it that way.'
Duvall told The Age that, in marketing terms, Bouchard had the potential to outdo glamour girl Maria Sharapova, the world’s richest sportswomen last year with earnings of $US29 million (£15m), according to Forbes magazine. Bouchard, he says, 'is the total package'.
Bouchard was born on February 25, 1994, in Montreal, Canada, where she still resides. According to her profile on the Women’s Tennis Association website and her own website, she has three siblings, including a twin sister; and the family lives on the same street as former Canadian Prime Minister Brian.
Her favourite singers are Justin Bieber and Jay-Z. She lists her interests as shopping, reading and swimming. Bouchard is close friends with British player Laura Robson and the pair often attend parties together.
For all her popularity, Duvall stresses that Bouchard has to keep level-headed and let her tennis do the talking.
'She's one that understands that the better she plays tennis, the more money and the more marketable and the more famous she's going to be. But it's all centred around the tennis,' he says, noting that Sharapova had already won four Grand Slam titles.
The last thing they want is for Bouchard to end up like 1990s icon Anna Kournikova, who was top of the marketing stakes back then but was often ridiculed because she never actually won a WTA title.
Red carpet glamour: Bouchard attends the annual pre-Wimbledon party at Kensington Roof Gardens last year
Gorgeous: It's little wonder the marketing firms are scrambling to get Bouchard to promote their stuff
On the circuit: Bouchard (left) in fancy dress with close friend British tennis player Laura Robson
Champion in the making: Though Bouchard was knocked out of the Australian Open in the semis, she is seen as a future star of the game
But already the marketers have been convinced by Bouchard’s potential. Word from her camp is that watch companies and global banks, among others, are bidding to secure marketing deals, joining the likes of Nike, her main sponsor.
The fans, too, are voting their approval. The Genie Army – who are usually decked out in the red and white colours of the Canadian flag - are a visible entity in the stands when she plays, and since the tournament began barely two weeks ago she has garnered another 80,000 'likes' on her official Facebook page.
Catching some rays: Bouchard posts a selfie from the beach on her Twitter account
Going loco: Bouchard on the beach in Acapulco, Mexico in another Twitter snap
Fashionable: Bouchard dressed up in a couple of Twitter pictures
Hard at work: Bouchard goes through her gym routine
Chilly: Bouchard in a cryotherapy chamber after training
Looking the part: Bouchard and Maria Sharapova modelling their new dresses
Bouchard’s success at the Australian Open this year is in total contrast with last year, when she was eliminated in the qualifying rounds. In 2011 and 2012, when she played in the women’s junior tournaments, she reached the semi-finals.
Before the start of the 2014 tournament, she had risen to No 31 on the WTA rankings, but following her win over 14th seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the quarter-finals, she is destined to enter the top 20 for the first time.
Bouchard was bidding to become just the fourth teenager to appear in a women's Grand Slam final in the past nine years, but she fell to the fourth seed Li Na of China 2-6, 4-6 in their semi-final today.
Nevertheless, the world has been put on notice: she is now a force to be reckoned with.
End of the line: Bouchard was knocked out of the Australian Open at the semi-final stage against Li Na
Perks of the job: Bouchard poses with a wombat at the players' cafe in Melbourne during the Open (left) and sits at the helm of a boat on this picture posted on her Twitter account (right)
Potential: The teenager is photographed with Maria Sharapova, who has made millions in sponsporship deals. Bouchard's agent believes she has the same potential
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2544522/Eugenie-Bouchard-new-golden-girl-tennis.html#ixzz2s7XY3q6I
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