Are the Odds Stacked Against Eugenie Bouchard in 2015?

Eugenie Bouchard is 21 and one of tennis’ biggest stars, but is being in the media bubble to much, too soon?

Eugenie Bouchard has everything a tennis star needs to jump to the front of the line – tremendous talent, a strong work ethic, mental toughness, and an unwavering competitive streak. Oh, and she’s extremely photogenic. Yes, she’s got the look, all right.

The Eugenie Bouchard Brand

Lately though, she’s getting more attention for her media wins than those between the tennis court’s white lines. Bouchard posed in the desert for a photo shoot that ended up on the cover of Flare magazine earlier this month, adding to her cover resume that already includes Elle and Chic to go along with a slew of other sponsorships including bigwigs like Nike and Coca-Cola.

What’s the big deal? It isn’t a big deal at all, really. The only reason Bouchard’s endorsement work is even coming up is because she isn’t winning, that is, until Wednesday’s straight-sets victory over Zarina Diyas in the second round of play at the Italian Open.

If this were last year, that type of win would barely budge the Bouchard meter, but this is this year. And this year, the No. 6-ranked player on the WTA had lost six straight matches before Wednesday’s win. If you’re any type of tennis fan, you heard all about that.

Amid the criticism, what you don’t hear a lot about is the fact that Bouchard still is just 21 years old and reached the semifinals in three of four majors last season. There’s no denying she hasn’t played up to her ability early this year, but let’s not forget the fact that she’s only been working with new coach Sam Sumyk since February.

Betting on Bouchard

It takes time for a young player to adjust after moving on from a longtime coach. That’s not to mention the amount of pressure she put on herself by burning up the WTA rankings last season. Once you get near the top, everyone expects you to be there at the end of every tournament.

Of course, media and extracurricular activities do keep Bouchard off the court more than some players. That doesn’t mean those commitments were at the root of her slump either, though. Every young player battles with consistency and Bouchard has already shown her ability to balance being a role model off the court and a fearless competitor on it.

Bouchard still sits eighth on the odds board to win the upcoming French Open at +2100, so it’s not like she’s completely fallen off the planet.

Give her a break – she’s 21 and the No. 6 player in the world. Plus, as of Wednesday, she has herself on another winning streak.