Wimbledon 2014: Is this Eugenie Bouchard's year?

Canadian beat Serena Williams' conquerer Alize Cornet today

Eugenie Bouchard receives support on Centre Court (GETTY IMAGES)

Serena’s gone, her slayer, too, so is this the year of Eugenie Bouchard? There were plenty on Centre Court this afternoon investing in the idea of a Canadian princess assuming the throne after the mighty dispatch of Alize Cornet, who herself ended the interest of the younger Williams in round three.

Blonde, brilliant and 20-years-old; that kind of combination goes a long way in this game. Only two years ago the Canadian, named after the daughter of Prince Andrew, claimed the junior Wimbledon crown. Here she was marching into the quarter-finals against an opponent fiercely attached to the idea that this might be her time.

The first set was claimed in a tie-break and the second was heading that way before Bouchard broke a second time to take the match 7-6, 7-5. Having reached the semi-finals at both the Australian and French Open, Bouchard’s pedigree is by increments claiming the high ground in the women’s game.

Eugenie Bouchard of Canada celebrates after winning her Ladies' Singles fourth round match against Alize Cornet (GETTY IMAGES)

Cornet deserves huge credit for her role in a gripping encounter, trading blow for blow with the emerging force from Montreal. Indeed she led 4-2 in the second and since her serve had yet to be breached looked likely to level at one set all.

But Bouchard broke for the first time to level at four all, a development which weakened fatally the resolve of Cornet. Though she battled on Bouchard wrestled the initiative with a battery of thunderous ground strokes, and after edging ahead 6-5, broke again to set up a quarter-final against Maria Sharapova, against whom she lost at the French, or Angelique Kerber.