Eugenie Bouchard to Maria Sharapova: ‘We’re Not Friends’; Russian Athlete Says She’s Not Competing to Make Friends Either; Duo Set to Clash at the French Open Semis

IN PHOTO: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada acknowledges spectators after winning her women's singles match against Angelique Kerber of Germany at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 1, 2014. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Rising Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard is set to clash with Russian superstar Maria Sharapova in the semifinals of the 2014 French Open.

In an interview at Roland Garros, Bouchard clearly and articulately said that she's only focused to win and the semifinals match is not the time to make friends. For Bouchard, Sharapova is competitor and for this reason, she's only fixated at winning the match. However, Bouchard also made it clear that she has "respect" for Sharapova, but everything will change when she faces her on the court.

"Well, first, I mean, we're not friends, so there's that," Bouchard uttered.

Bouchard never denied that she looked up to Sharapova as a role model. "As a child, I looked up to her and I remember watching her at the finals in Wimbledon, and I thought what she was doing was so cool and I wanted to do the same thing."

"For sure, I respect her, but now, you know, we're in the semis of Grand Slam so I'm gonna respect her but not put her too high on a pedestal and really just battle, you know, that's what it's gonna be."

"You know, leave everything off-court and just focus on myself and try my best to win."

Bouchard is the third Canadian female to reach the quarterfinals of the French Open, The Star reported. Now, she is reportedly the first to reach the semifinals.

Sharapova, on the other hand, somehow feels the same way. According to the eight-ranked tennis athlete in the world, making friends in her sports career isn't something that she is very passionate about. "I treat my career and my work as a very serious profession, I'm a big competitor," Sharapova claimed as reported on the tournament's official Web site.

"From day one, I was never here to make friendships."

"This is a battlefield for me, and I want to win."

"I'm in the locker room, I change, I go home, it's not really my social hub."

Bouchard and Sharapova booked their semifinals slots after beating Carla Suarez Navarro and Garbine Muguruza, in the quarterfinals of the said tournament, respectively.