Eugenie Bouchard bid a teary adieu to competitive tennis. The Canadian lost her farewell match 6-2 3-6 6-4 to Belinda Bencic in the second round of the Canadian Open in Montreal on Wednesday night.
Life came to a full circle for Bouchard as she brought the curtains down to where she began.
“I’ve always had a feeling I would end my career here,” said Bouchard. “Montreal is where I was born and raised, so it just feels right. An emotional moment. I think I just wanted a moment like this because my career deserved a moment like this.
“I really think I got it tonight, and I’m so grateful for that.”
The 31-year-old from Westmount battled courageously and electrified the crowd against a top-tier opponent- showing flashes of brilliance that once powered her rise to world No. 5 in 2014.
Eugenie Bouchard: “It feels like such a full-circle moment”
“My sister said she started a petition with fans in the crowd, and everyone signed it, so now I have no choice but to rescind my retirement,” Bouchard said, smiling. “But there’s a lot of hard work that goes into tennis. It was great to be able to perform well, but it’s such a tough life of sacrifice and hard work.
“I’ve given so much to tennis, and it’s given me so much, but I do feel ready to move on from that and do other things in life, but I will forever be grateful for what tennis has given me.”
Bouchard began her Montreal campaign with a win on Monday against Emiliana Arango, her first WTA Tour victory since 2023.
As she stepped into the second round, the home crowd packed the stands at IGA Stadium, chanting “Let’s Go Genie!” and grew louder throughout the warm summer night, standing up for several ovations.
Bouchard returned the favour with an emotional, teary-eyed speech during an on-court ceremony.
“It’s so special to play my last match here in Montreal, on this court, in front of you guys,” she said. “I remember being a little kid, sitting in these stands, hoping and dreaming that I would play on this court one day.
“It feels like such a full-circle moment.”
Also Read: US Open Mixed Doubles: Venus Williams Partners Reilly Opelka
Eugenie Bouchard Career Highlights
Bouchard, who once ranked as high as fifth in the world, gained fame in 2014 when she reached the Wimbledon final and made semi-final runs at the Australian and French Opens.
However, her career was marred by injuries, including a concussion from a locker room fall at the 2015 US Open and a shoulder injury that required surgery in 2021.
In recent years, Bouchard has sporadically played on the pro tennis circuit, spending more time on the PPA Pickleball Tour, where she ranks 12th in singles.
