The 2018 Australian Open is about to kick off with yet another edition of the so-called Happy Slam. Melbourne Park is set to host the first major tennis showdown of the year. The main draw pictures for both men and women have emerged, while the qualifying sessions unfold.
The Women's draw has the world No. 1 Simona Halep as a pack leader with Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark as the second seed. With Serena Williams unable to defend last year's title, and with an apparent lack of domination from a specific player, the stage seems wide open for letting everyone involved get a great run.
Deep down into the meanders of the top 100, Eugenie Bouchard representing Canada will try to turn around a career that went completely off the rails. Currently ranked 83rd in the world, Bouchard seeks to regain her top player status.
Australian Open is the event where her great adventure started
Four years ago, as a 19-year-old tennis hopeful from Canada, Eugenie Bouchard stormed into the peaceful Melbourne Park to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal. it was the season of 2014, a year that eventually had Bouchard holding most of the tennis headlines. Her best year to date, she started big in Australia, then she made another semifinal at the French Open. Several weeks later, she went one step forward reaching the final of 2014 Wimbledon Championships only to lose it against Petra Kvitova.
The Londonese event was her peak. From that point on, she started to go down at a fast pace.
The very next year saw Bouchard reaching the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the second time in a row. It was her last significant result in a Grand Slam, as ever since she has been struggling with form and injuries.
2018 Australian Open draw puts her in a tough spot
Due to her poor ranking, Bouchard has to endure the cruelty of the main draw. Bouchard will open her Aussie campaign against Oceane Dodin (87 WTA). If she gets pas the young French hope, Bouchard might face the current world No. 1 in the second round. Simona Halep leads the first quarter fo the draw and she'll open her bid by facing the young Aussie Destanee Aiava.
While Halep leads Bouchard by 201 in head to head stats, the Canadian can brag about having won against Halep in the 2014 Wimbledon semis. All their three past meetings occurred back in 2014.
If she manages to upset the highest ranked player, Bouchard may face another ghost from the past, as Petra Kvitova looms in the third round. It's hard to predict how the Canadian will play, but she can use those fast courts at Melbourne Park to impose her own rhythm. And maybe, Bouchard can bounce back to the top. A deep run in Australia will give her a solid start to press the long-awaited reset button.
