MELBOURNE: Eugenie Bouchard Monday said she has zero expectations as she works to rebuild her career after a head injury, but offered glimpses of her old self in an easy Australian Open win.
The Canadian, 21, showed her huge potential by making her first Grand Slam semi-final at Melbourne Park in 2014.
She followed up that year by making the French Open semi-final and Wimbledon final, reaching a career-high world ranking of five in October 2014.
But she suffered a big setback at the US Open last September when she sustained a head injury after slipping in the locker room.
It forced her out of her fourth-round match at Flushing Meadows with concussion and she remained troubled, withdrawing from an event in Wuhan, China, and retiring midway through a first-round match in Beijing with dizziness.
The Canadian did not contest another tour event but began 2016 by making the final of the Hobart International and followed it up with a 6-3, 6-4 win here over Serb Aleksandra Krunic.
"It was a tough turnaround from Hobart but that's a good problem to have, that's what I wanted to have, a lot of matches," she said after setting up a second-round Australian Open clash with fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Given the head injury, Bouchard said she was not sure what to expect this year.
"I had zero expectations (ahead of the tournament), I still do," she said.
"I have no idea what could potentially happen because I've had so much time off and experienced something I've never experienced before in my life.
"I'm just happy that I'm able to find somewhat decent form so far, but I know I have a long road to go."
Asked if she had any goals at all for 2016, she replied: "My goal is to be healthy, play as well as I can. I'm just grateful to be back on court, I've missed this a lot.
"Deep down I know I still believe in myself and I have dreams I know I can achieve," she added.
"Hopefully if things keep progressing I can start putting expectations on myself."
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