The first appearance of a Canadian in 30 years in an Australian Open semifinal match will be mandatory viewing for many Montrealers this evening at 9:30 as they cheer on hometown tennis star Eugenie Bouchard as she battles China’s Li Na for a place in the finals.
Oddmakers are favouring Na, 31 - a finalist at the tournament last year - with one betting side offering 6-1 odds of a three-set Bouchard triumph.
But some who know her best think that the 19-year-old phenom has a good chance at another win.
“I’m just hoping she can actually be loose and hit the ball like she did yesterday against Ana Ivanovic. If she does that well and she’s on her game I’m confident there’s a good chance she can win,” her father Mike Bouchard told CTV Montreal.
Eugenie Bouchard said that she does not expect an easy match.
"Li's a great champion, she's won a Slam, as well, it's going to be really tough," said Bouchard. "I played her once in Montreal two years ago. We had a close match, one of my first bigger matches. It will be interesting to play her. I know she's very solid, very good from the back. It's going to be hard, but I'm looking forward to it."
-With a file from The Canadian Press
