Eugenie Bouchard: Australian Open's new women's star

Showing poise and maturity beyond her 19 years, Eugenie Bouchard became the first Canadian to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open when she upset former world number one Ana Ivanovic 5-7 7-5 6-2 on Tuesday.

Ivanovic had stunned world number one Serena Williams in the previous round but hampered by a left hip injury, she was worn down by Bouchard, who showed no signs of nerves in her first grand-slam quarter-final.
 

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard serves during her women's singles match against Serbia's Ana Ivanovic on day nine at the 2014 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 21, 2014. (AFP)

The only time Bouchard lost her poise was when she was asked in her on-court interview who she would most like to date, looking slightly embarrassed before announcing: "Justin Bieber".

On court, she was calm throughout, even after losing the first set and then, when she was leading 4-3 in the second, having to wait for several minutes while Ivanovic took a medical timeout for treatment to her left hip.

"I'm glad I looked (calm)," she said, when asked how she dealt with the delay. "We'd just had a tough game. I tried to keep fighting and play aggressive and I think I stepped it up in the third set."

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard leans on the net during her women's singles match against Serbia's Ana Ivanovic on day nine at the 2014 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 21, 2014. (AFP)

Cheered on by the "Genie Army", a band of Australians wearing the letters of her first name, Bouchard missed three chances to break in the second game of the decider, but earned the breakthrough two games later.

Ivanovic tried to get back into the match with some heavy hitting but Bouchard was a match for everything she could throw at her and broke again to seal victory.

Eugenie Bouchard of Cananda celebrates her win over Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during their women's singles match on day nine of the 2014 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 21, 2014. (AFP)

In the semi-finals Bouchard will play China's Li Na, who beat her in their only previous meeting, in Montreal in 2012.
"We had a tough battle last time," Bouchard said. "I didn't have much experience back then so I feel this time I'll be better.

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