Tennis heart-throb Eugenie Bouchard retires just weeks after shock return to tennis
The Canadian ace was once tipped to become a global star after reaching the final of Wimbledon in 2014.
Bouchard was just 20 years old at the time when she came up against former champ Petra Kvitova.
There was heartbreak for Bouchard as she lost 6-3 6-0 to the Czech.
But despite reaching the semis of the Australian and French Opens in the same year, Bouchard never made another final.
Instead, her career took a downward turn.
Bouchard, who was ranked No5 in the world in 2014, slipped to No48 just a year later.
And as injuries took their toll, she gradually faded from the women's game entirely.
Despite raking in a fortune with modelling work, Bouchard eventually turned to the trendy sport of pickleball.
But she left fans stunned when she revealed plans to play tennis' Hall of Fame Open this month.
Bouchard was defeated early on in the Round of 32, losing 7-6 5-2 to Anna Rogers.
And now, the Canadian has declared she is finally hanging up her racket and balls for good.
Bouchard said alongside a throwback picture on social media: 'You'll know when it's time.
'For me, it's now. Ending where it all started. Montreal.'
Fans will still get to see Bouchard one last time when she takes part at the 2025 Canadian Open later this month.
Gavin Ziv, CEO of Tennis Canada, said: 'Few athletes have left as profound a mark on Canadian tennis as Genie [Bouchard] has throughout her extraordinary career.
'As one of the very first players to ever be part of the National Tennis Centre presented by Rogers in Montreal, she achieved things that many thought would be impossible for Canadian players.
'Her career highlights, which include a Wimbledon final appearance and a Billie Jean King Cup championship, are nothing short of extraordinary and were a true catalyst for the development of tennis in our country.
'She's been and still is an incredible ambassador for our sport and, on behalf of Tennis Canada, I want to thank her for everything she's done. We wish her continued success in the next chapter of her career.'
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The Advertiser
12 hours ago
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Bouchard extends career with three-set win in Montreal
Hometown hero Eugenie Bouchard has battled her way to a three-set victory in the first round of the Canadian Open, a win that has delayed the former world No.5's retirement. Bouchard, who reached the Wimbledon final and two other grand slam semi-finals in 2014, beat Emiliana Arango 6-4 2-6 6-2 in Montreal on Monday (Tuesday AEST). The Canadian veteran announced this month she would walk away from the sport after the tournament, but added a condition to that plan in the wake of her thrilling victory in front of a packed crowd. "If I win this tournament, I will not retire," she said in an on-court interview. Playing in only her second singles match of the year, Bouchard blasted a forehand winner to take the first set, but Colombian Arango turned the tables in the second set amid a cascade of unforced errors from her opponent. However, Bouchard broke for a 3-1 lead in the decider and hammered a swinging volley to extend the advantage to 4-1. The 31-year-old wildcard put her hands on her head and then her heart after securing the victory to set up a second round meeting with 17th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. Briton Emma Raducanu beat her good friend Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania 6-2 6-4 and will next meet 32nd seed Peyton Stearns. "It's very difficult to play someone who you are close to," said Raducanu, who made the semi-finals at last week's Washington Open. "I'm really glad about how I was able to put that to one side for the match and back up a good week in D.C." Four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka of Japan beat Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4 6-2 in breezy conditions to set up a second-round meeting with 13th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova. Hometown hero Eugenie Bouchard has battled her way to a three-set victory in the first round of the Canadian Open, a win that has delayed the former world No.5's retirement. Bouchard, who reached the Wimbledon final and two other grand slam semi-finals in 2014, beat Emiliana Arango 6-4 2-6 6-2 in Montreal on Monday (Tuesday AEST). The Canadian veteran announced this month she would walk away from the sport after the tournament, but added a condition to that plan in the wake of her thrilling victory in front of a packed crowd. "If I win this tournament, I will not retire," she said in an on-court interview. Playing in only her second singles match of the year, Bouchard blasted a forehand winner to take the first set, but Colombian Arango turned the tables in the second set amid a cascade of unforced errors from her opponent. However, Bouchard broke for a 3-1 lead in the decider and hammered a swinging volley to extend the advantage to 4-1. The 31-year-old wildcard put her hands on her head and then her heart after securing the victory to set up a second round meeting with 17th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. Briton Emma Raducanu beat her good friend Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania 6-2 6-4 and will next meet 32nd seed Peyton Stearns. "It's very difficult to play someone who you are close to," said Raducanu, who made the semi-finals at last week's Washington Open. "I'm really glad about how I was able to put that to one side for the match and back up a good week in D.C." Four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka of Japan beat Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4 6-2 in breezy conditions to set up a second-round meeting with 13th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova. Hometown hero Eugenie Bouchard has battled her way to a three-set victory in the first round of the Canadian Open, a win that has delayed the former world No.5's retirement. Bouchard, who reached the Wimbledon final and two other grand slam semi-finals in 2014, beat Emiliana Arango 6-4 2-6 6-2 in Montreal on Monday (Tuesday AEST). The Canadian veteran announced this month she would walk away from the sport after the tournament, but added a condition to that plan in the wake of her thrilling victory in front of a packed crowd. "If I win this tournament, I will not retire," she said in an on-court interview. Playing in only her second singles match of the year, Bouchard blasted a forehand winner to take the first set, but Colombian Arango turned the tables in the second set amid a cascade of unforced errors from her opponent. However, Bouchard broke for a 3-1 lead in the decider and hammered a swinging volley to extend the advantage to 4-1. The 31-year-old wildcard put her hands on her head and then her heart after securing the victory to set up a second round meeting with 17th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. Briton Emma Raducanu beat her good friend Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania 6-2 6-4 and will next meet 32nd seed Peyton Stearns. "It's very difficult to play someone who you are close to," said Raducanu, who made the semi-finals at last week's Washington Open. "I'm really glad about how I was able to put that to one side for the match and back up a good week in D.C." Four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka of Japan beat Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4 6-2 in breezy conditions to set up a second-round meeting with 13th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova. Hometown hero Eugenie Bouchard has battled her way to a three-set victory in the first round of the Canadian Open, a win that has delayed the former world No.5's retirement. Bouchard, who reached the Wimbledon final and two other grand slam semi-finals in 2014, beat Emiliana Arango 6-4 2-6 6-2 in Montreal on Monday (Tuesday AEST). The Canadian veteran announced this month she would walk away from the sport after the tournament, but added a condition to that plan in the wake of her thrilling victory in front of a packed crowd. "If I win this tournament, I will not retire," she said in an on-court interview. Playing in only her second singles match of the year, Bouchard blasted a forehand winner to take the first set, but Colombian Arango turned the tables in the second set amid a cascade of unforced errors from her opponent. However, Bouchard broke for a 3-1 lead in the decider and hammered a swinging volley to extend the advantage to 4-1. The 31-year-old wildcard put her hands on her head and then her heart after securing the victory to set up a second round meeting with 17th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. Briton Emma Raducanu beat her good friend Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania 6-2 6-4 and will next meet 32nd seed Peyton Stearns. "It's very difficult to play someone who you are close to," said Raducanu, who made the semi-finals at last week's Washington Open. "I'm really glad about how I was able to put that to one side for the match and back up a good week in D.C." Four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka of Japan beat Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4 6-2 in breezy conditions to set up a second-round meeting with 13th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova.
Perth Now
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Bouchard extends career with three-set win in Montreal
Hometown hero Eugenie Bouchard has battled her way to a three-set victory in the first round of the Canadian Open, a win that has delayed the former world No.5's retirement. Bouchard, who reached the Wimbledon final and two other grand slam semi-finals in 2014, beat Emiliana Arango 6-4 2-6 6-2 in Montreal on Monday (Tuesday AEST). The Canadian veteran announced this month she would walk away from the sport after the tournament, but added a condition to that plan in the wake of her thrilling victory in front of a packed crowd. "If I win this tournament, I will not retire," she said in an on-court interview. Playing in only her second singles match of the year, Bouchard blasted a forehand winner to take the first set, but Colombian Arango turned the tables in the second set amid a cascade of unforced errors from her opponent. However, Bouchard broke for a 3-1 lead in the decider and hammered a swinging volley to extend the advantage to 4-1. The 31-year-old wildcard put her hands on her head and then her heart after securing the victory to set up a second round meeting with 17th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. Briton Emma Raducanu beat her good friend Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania 6-2 6-4 and will next meet 32nd seed Peyton Stearns. "It's very difficult to play someone who you are close to," said Raducanu, who made the semi-finals at last week's Washington Open. "I'm really glad about how I was able to put that to one side for the match and back up a good week in D.C." Four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka of Japan beat Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4 6-2 in breezy conditions to set up a second-round meeting with 13th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova.
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