There may be a silver lining in Eugenie Bouchard's battle back from her U.S. Open concussion.
With the extra time away from the court, the Canadian tennis player has hired a new coach, apparently feels a lot better and has the motivation of a nightmarish 2015 to guide her when the 2016 season starts, according to Yahoo Sports Canada.
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"Bouchard has documented a few setbacks on social media," Yahoo Sports Canada reported. "But on Tuesday at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., she appeared healthy and in good form as she took the court both in the morning and the afternoon on a day when temperatures soared past 30C (approximately 86 degrees Fahrenheit)."
Bouchard has decided to retain former Maria Sharapova coach Thomas Hogstedt on a permanent basis after working with him on a trial basis in October. She entered 2015 without a coach. After advancing to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, Bouchard hired Sam Sumyk as her coach, with whom she had no prior relationship.
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That was a disaster as Bouchard only won five matches total before her U.S. Open run to the fourth round before withdrawing. By that time, Sumyk already had moved on.
Bouchard also has looked better on the court, albeit in practice only, Yahoo Sports Canada added.
"But she looked healthier than she had for much of 2015, when concerns about her shrinking silhouette had Bouchard diehard fans and many others talking.
"She was striking the ball cleanly, powerfully. Her serve motion seemed simplified; it often looked that way during practice sessions in 2015 before getting hitchy and a little complicated during crunch time in matches, though, so it's too soon to determine whether those issues have been straightened out.
"She certainly was looking for opportunities to take the net and finish off points, a tactic she lost sight of for much of 2014 and 2015."
Bouchard is in the midst of a lawsuit against the USTA and the Billie Jean Tennis Center over the concussion she suffered at the U.S. Open that forced her to withdraw before her fourth-round match against Roberta Vinci.
Her lawsuit could wind up for millions of dollars if successful. But if she isn't, at least she may have a chance to earn the money on the court with a revived career.
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