Bouchard reaches Wimbledon finals

Canadian sporting history is being made by Eugenie Bouchard. The 20-year old tennis sensation from Montreal won her semi-final match at Wimbledon Thursday — making her the first Canadian to ever reach a grand slam final. He big win is adding to the enthusiasm and the growing members of “Genie’s Army”.

And if you thought the ‘Genie Army‘ couldn’t handle any more recruits, you couldn’t be more wrong.

“She’s a really nice player and I look up to her.”

“When I go to a small final, even at small tournaments in Canada, it feels great, y’know, to have something like that under your belt.”

Those are just some of the young tennis players at Cedar Springs Health Racquet and Sports Club in Burlington who were left inspired after witnessing Canadian tennis history.

Eugenie Bouchard, is the first Canadian to ever qualify for a grand slam final after she defeated third ranked Simona Halep in straight sets: “I’ve put in a lot of hard work. It’s been kinda a lot of years in the making for me. I believe in myself and I always want more.”

The win will shoot ‘genie further up the Women’s Tennis Association standings on Monday and instantly makes her the face of the next generation of tennis stars and a role model to countless young players.

Walker LaMarche is a tennis coach: “This is a huge thing for Eugenie Bouchard and Canadian tennis as a whole, a lot of young kids are going start getting involved seeing such a huge player coming in that’s so young in the tennis industry.”

Brandon Alguire is also a tennis coach: “So many young girls already look up to her, it can only help the popularity of the sport and getting young kids involved in the sport.”

And while ‘genie prepares for the biggest match of her young career, back here in Canada, the sport of tennis is ready to explode.

John McGee owns a sports shop in Burlington: “I see the junior clothing and the junior racquets is definitely going to spike, specifically because kids are watching this on TV — and they’re excited.”

George Schroeder is with Cedar Springs Racquet Club: “More kids see that they might be able to do it themselves and want to be involved so I can see the developmental program increasing for sure.”

Genie will take on 2011 Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova on Saturday. And we’ll see if more history can be made Friday as Thornhill’s Milos Raonic will face Roger Federer in his first grand slam semi-final. It’ll be a way tougher task but could we see two Canadians at a grand slam final this weekend?