So, Sam Sumyk has taken the fall for Eugenie Bouchard’s inexplicable sophomore slump, six months after jumping ship to join the Canadian’s team.
Back in February, Sumyk, who was working with former No 1 Victoria Azarenka until the Australian Open, was introduced as the man Bouchard wanted.
“When I was looking for a coach, I wanted someone who’s played or who’s been coaching someone who’d been there, getting to No 1 or winning grand slams, and he’s done that,” the Canadian said.
“He’s what I wanted.”
Bouchard was ranked No 7 at the time. Then the slump started — she has lost her opening match at eight of her 11 tournaments since, including the French Open and Wimbledon. Her win-loss record since the Australian Open is 4-13, and she has slipped down the rankings to No 25.
Ahmed Rizvi: Tennis must start naming and shaming match-fixers to effectively tackle the problem
So, her slide has certainly coincided with Sumyk’s appointment as coach, but is the Frenchman solely responsible for Bouchard’s woes? Probably not. The Canadian will have to look inward to find the other reasons, most of which seem pretty obvious.
Observers, for one, have pointed out the weight and muscle loss. That has certainly made her look good on magazine covers and in fashion shoots, but it has surely not helped her tennis.
The mental toughness that marked her early career is missing. She will need to rediscover that and, most importantly, realise she is an elite athlete and not some up-and-coming model.
One cannot imagine a Ronda Rousey losing weight just to look good for the cameras or to bag a few extra endorsements.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE
