<p>Former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard said she was "so grateful to have a job" in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic which has plunged the global economy into a recession.</p>.<p>The 26-year-old Canadian has endured years of disappointment after failing to rescale the heights that saw her finish runner-up to Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon in 2014, and needed a wild card just to take part at the French Open.</p>.<p>Wednesday's 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win over Daria Gavrilova sent Bouchard through to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2017 Australian Open.</p>.<p>"I'm proud of taking advantage of the opportunities. There are so few tournaments this year. Especially with my ranking, I was very limited with what I could play," said Bouchard, the world number 168.</p>.<p>"We're all just so grateful to have jobs, have a big event to kind of end our season.</p>.<p>"You just have to be so grateful for every opportunity. I've tried to push myself in every chance I've had because I know there are so few."</p>.<p>Six years ago Bouchard appeared on the cusp of global stardom after a golden season that also included semi-final appearances at the Australian Open and French Open.</p>.<p>She achieved a career high of fifth in October 2014 but has largely spent the intervening years in freefall, reaching the second week of a Grand Slam just twice.</p>.<p>The last such time was at the 2015 US Open when a locker room slip forced her to withdraw in the last 16 with a concussion.</p>.<p>She later reached a settlement with the US Tennis Association over an accident her lawyer said had sent Bouchard on a "downward spiral that she has not been able to recover from".</p>.<p>"I think I've had tough moments, for sure," said Bouchard.</p>.<p>"I think deep down, you know, still believing in myself no matter what, knowing my skill can't just go away, knowing that I've achieved success before.</p>.<p>"It's just something that I'll always have, reinforces my belief. That's what I use when I need to work hard, when times are tough."</p>.<p>Bouchard has been working since last October with Gil Reyes, Andre Agassi's long-time training guru and confidant.</p>.<p>While her only WTA title came at Nuremberg in 2014, Bouchard arrived in Paris on the back of a first final in over four years in Istanbul.</p>.<p>"Gil is one of my favourite people on this planet. He's such a special person. Words don't do him justice," said Bouchard.</p>.<p>"I'm so grateful for his help. He believes in me so much. It helps me believe in myself."</p>.<p>Bouchard takes on Polish teenager Iga Swiatek for a berth in the last 16 but is staying grounded, chastened by her experiences of years past.</p>.<p>"I'm just happy to be here right now," she said. "I don't look ahead other than my next match.</p>.<p>"There are some upsets. I'm sure lots of interesting things will go down over the next two weeks. I'm just focused on my next one."</p>
<p>Former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard said she was "so grateful to have a job" in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic which has plunged the global economy into a recession.</p>.<p>The 26-year-old Canadian has endured years of disappointment after failing to rescale the heights that saw her finish runner-up to Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon in 2014, and needed a wild card just to take part at the French Open.</p>.<p>Wednesday's 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win over Daria Gavrilova sent Bouchard through to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2017 Australian Open.</p>.<p>"I'm proud of taking advantage of the opportunities. There are so few tournaments this year. Especially with my ranking, I was very limited with what I could play," said Bouchard, the world number 168.</p>.<p>"We're all just so grateful to have jobs, have a big event to kind of end our season.</p>.<p>"You just have to be so grateful for every opportunity. I've tried to push myself in every chance I've had because I know there are so few."</p>.<p>Six years ago Bouchard appeared on the cusp of global stardom after a golden season that also included semi-final appearances at the Australian Open and French Open.</p>.<p>She achieved a career high of fifth in October 2014 but has largely spent the intervening years in freefall, reaching the second week of a Grand Slam just twice.</p>.<p>The last such time was at the 2015 US Open when a locker room slip forced her to withdraw in the last 16 with a concussion.</p>.<p>She later reached a settlement with the US Tennis Association over an accident her lawyer said had sent Bouchard on a "downward spiral that she has not been able to recover from".</p>.<p>"I think I've had tough moments, for sure," said Bouchard.</p>.<p>"I think deep down, you know, still believing in myself no matter what, knowing my skill can't just go away, knowing that I've achieved success before.</p>.<p>"It's just something that I'll always have, reinforces my belief. That's what I use when I need to work hard, when times are tough."</p>.<p>Bouchard has been working since last October with Gil Reyes, Andre Agassi's long-time training guru and confidant.</p>.<p>While her only WTA title came at Nuremberg in 2014, Bouchard arrived in Paris on the back of a first final in over four years in Istanbul.</p>.<p>"Gil is one of my favourite people on this planet. He's such a special person. Words don't do him justice," said Bouchard.</p>.<p>"I'm so grateful for his help. He believes in me so much. It helps me believe in myself."</p>.<p>Bouchard takes on Polish teenager Iga Swiatek for a berth in the last 16 but is staying grounded, chastened by her experiences of years past.</p>.<p>"I'm just happy to be here right now," she said. "I don't look ahead other than my next match.</p>.<p>"There are some upsets. I'm sure lots of interesting things will go down over the next two weeks. I'm just focused on my next one."</p>