After his last brush with coaching, Jimmy Connors could be forgiven for avoiding that phrase in working with embattled Eugenie Bouchard.
But he could be considering a role as her mental mentor.
Eugenie Bouchard's Impressive 2014 Season May Have Been Sham
Connors spent the weekend working with Bouchard in advance of her entry of the U.S. Open tennis championship, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Bouchard has a 9-17 match record in 2015 after advancing to the semifinals in three Grand Slam tournaments in 2014, including a spot in the '14 French Open final. She reached as high as No. 5 in 2014 and was No. 7 at year's end, but has since plummeted to No. 25.
Struggling Eugenie Bouchard Finally Fires Coach Sam Sumyk
Connors, who worked with Maria Sharapova for one month last year before they abruptly ended their arrangement, made sure to tell the WSJ, "I'm not a coach."
"I'm happy to be back for a couple of days to do what I can," Connors said. "If you find that little thing that clicks, that's key for anybody, not just Genie, but for any of the top players.
"I like her work ethic and the way she goes about her business," he added. "You can't paint that on anybody, that's either there or it's not. And you know when it's a bluff. The way she goes about it and takes care of her business, she's willing to learn and she's willing to try things."
Bouchard, who has been nursing an abdominal injury for much of the summer, told TSN.ca that Connors talked to her about the mental aspect of the game.
"The thing that stuck with me the most is just to have that confidence, because you know, I've done it before, I have reached a high level, reached late rounds of Grand Slams, and so I know how to do it. I have the experience. I've done it before, which proves that I can do it again. And I just need to get out of my own way, let it come out, and it will happen," Bouchard told TSN.
Connors had a lot to say to Bouchard, Yahoo Sports reported, lending to the possibility that the former No. 1 men's player may not be done mentoring Bouchard.
"Once again, Connors was in Bouchard's face for most of the practice session Sunday, during which she played practice games with diminutive Serbian player Aleksandra Krunic. And once again, it wasn't a particularly good session," Yahoo reported.
"At the end, Connors once again was preaching his sermon - Bouchard finally had to interrupt him so she could shake Krunic's hand, standard procedure after players practice together."
Connor's words worked, at least initially, as Bouchard beat Alison Riske in the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday.
Connors was not present for Bouchard's win but will be back in New York next week and indicated he would be in her corner if she's still in the draw, tennis.com reported.
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