LONDON (AP) – Eugenie Bouchard sat in a room just off Centre Court watching the engraver etch the champion’s name onto the Wimbledon trophy.
It seemed like a cruel punishment: It was Petra Kvitova’s name, not hers, that was being put on the Venus Rosewater Dish that goes to the women’s winner.
Bouchard, the 20-year-old Canadian playing in her first Grand Slam final, was trounced 6-3, 6-0 in 55 minutes by the hard-hitting Czech lefthander on Saturday, a humbling lesson for a player considered the next big star of the women’s game.
After the most lopsided women’s final in 22 years, Bouchard was left to wait for the trophy ceremony in a side room while the Centre Court roof was being closed because of rain.
” Yeah, it was a little odd,” she said. “I sat down. I put my jacket on. Just reflected. I was in the engraver’s room, so I was watching them work, wishing one day, dreaming that he’ll write my name somewhere.”