Bouzkova, "Juggy" continue winning in Lexington
In a sport where it's almost always sunny, tennis players have all kinds of strategies for keeping cool during changeovers: draping themselves in ice packs, drinking colorful concoctions, hiding under umbrellas, etc.
But one of the hardest-to-hide methods is a trademark of steadily-rising Czech player Marie Bouzkova. She has battled through long sets in the Kentucky heat this week with a trusted partner, her enormous thermos that she's had for over a decade.
With Bouzkova having become a major tour-level threat over the past year and change—see her six-match winning streak in Toronto and run to the Monterrey final in the last tournament she played—her bottle was in need of a recognizable name.
"Juggy," the Tennis Channel team suggested at first. Then on Twitter, commentator Brett Haber suggested #BouzieBottle, to which Bouzkova enthusiastically agreed.
Following up on a 6-4, 6-4 first-round Lexington win over Johanna Konta, Bouzkova fought for an hour and 42 minutes on Wednesday to beat Anna Blinkova, 6-4, 6-2, and advance to the quarterfinals.
And she finished the match in thrilling fashion, ending a 23-stroke cat-and-mouse rally with a running forehand pass:
Next, Bouzkova and her #BouzieBottle will take on the winner of Magda Linette and Jennifer Brady.