Eugenie Bouchard delays retirement with first win in two years as she prepares to quit tennis for different sport
The 2014 Wimbledon runner-up will lay down her tennis racquet and transfer her skills to pickleball after the conclusion of the National Bank Open in Montreal.
6
6
Fans gathered on Monday night thinking they might get the chance to say goodbye to Bouchard, who was once one of the top players on the WTA circuit.
More people have gotten to know her in recent years from stunning beach swimsuit photoshoots – the most famous was for Sports Illustrated – than from tennis appearances.
Since her heyday, she has faded from the competitive arena and slumped to 1,062 in the world rankings due to inactivity.
The 31-year-old chose this event as the best chance to say her proper farewells to the sport – she was given a wildcard by organisers – but she has managed to extend the party for a few more days.
The Montreal-born player won a gripping three-setter 6-4 2-6 6-2 over two hours and 14 minutes against Colombian world No82 Emiliana Arango at the IGA Stadium.
The place was rocking as she marked her first WTA victory since 2023 – and first success in her home city since 2016.
This was also her second singles match this year.
And she will now prepare to face Switzerland's former Olympics champion Belinda Bencic in round two on Wednesday.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
6
6
Bouchard – named after the Duke of York, Prince Andrew's younger daughter Princess Eugenie – said: 'I didn't know what to expect.
'I woke up this morning just telling myself: 'Look, I can't control the result.'
'I just want to have a good attitude, have good fight, and try to feel good with my shots, feel good with my game.
'No matter what happens, I wanted to walk off the court having enjoyed that kind of gritty battle, and it definitely turned into one of those battles.
'I enjoyed every second of it.
'There were definitely moments where I had to kind of almost block out the noise and just pretend it was a normal point that just happened.
'And just keep going because the crowd was very loud out there, and I really, really appreciated it.'
HISTORY MAKER
Eleven years ago, Bouchard became the first player to represent Canada to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
She was crushed 6-3 6-0 by Czech player Petra Kvitova in the Wimbledon final on Centre Court.
That same season she made the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open and reached the Last 16 of the US Open.
Two years ago, she achieved a career high by helping Canada win the Billie Jean King Cup Final in Seville.
Her career has been derailed by inconsistent play and injury, which included a serious shoulder surgery that kept her off the court for 17 months between 2021-2022.
There was also a lengthy lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association (USTA) after she suffered a concussion when she slipped and fell in a US Open locker room in 2015.
In February 2018, a jury decided Bouchard was partially at fault – it determined the USTA was 75 per cent to blame for the incident, with Bouchard 25 per cent to blame.
6
6
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
11 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The stylish sportswear Telegraph journalists swear by – and you should too
I could write a book about the benefits of taking up tennis again in mid-life (fitness, body confidence, family bonding). I could also pen a ranty diatribe about how inadequate and weirdly patronising a lot of sports lines for women are. Let's see… Men's shorts featuring ball pockets, plus a zippered one at the back for keys. Women's shorts? Ah, no pockets at all. This is particularly annoying when you are playing tennis and need an extra ball for serving. Happily, some cool, boutique sports lines are springing up that are more enlightened and have a less cookie-cutter approach. One such is Spence (a tomboyish US tennis label, with an aesthetic that's more Billy Baldwin in The Squid and the Whale, than Aryna Sabalenka in a racer-back bodycon). Spence founder Amanda Greeley told me that 'we fit all our men's pieces on women too, which is a little unusual, but we found during the process that the men's shorts looks really great on women too'. Greeley doesn't go for the whole matchy-matchy club tennis look, preferring something 'kind of mixed and matched and layered', which certainly suits someone like me. For this article, I wanted to tap into the wisdom of other female colleagues at The Telegraph who play sport (read on to glean their expert tips on practical sports gear, plus sample their inspirational attitude). What does it matter what anyone wears to play sport you might carp? Well, if wearing a kit that makes you feel more confident in your body gets you out there in the field to enjoy the endorphin-boosting, health benefits and exhilaration of sport – I certainly can't think of a bigger win than that. Here's to more pockets and more joy. Let's go. Skip to: Running Cricket Yoga Netball Tennis Running – Jess Benjamin Jess wears: Airism jacket, £29.90, Uniqlo; Running vest with flasks, £160 and crew socks, £19 (both Salomon); Double layer shorts, £48, Oner, Skyflow trainers, £150 and run hat, £30 (both Hoka) How long have you been running? I've always dabbled in running, but properly got into it during the 2020 lockdown. Ideally, I do a long run at the weekends and short runs during the week, but it depends on how busy I am. What do you typically wear to train/play? In the winter months, I wear leggings, a long sleeve top and depending on how biting the cold is, a sports jacket too – all from M&S. I think their sports range is really good and great value for money. In the summer, I wear shorts and a vest, shedding the vest on really hot days so I'm just in a sports bra and shorts. What are your frustrations with what is available in the market? Most of all, the shorts. My winter leggings have a handy zip pocket at the back that holds my phone and house keys, but no women's shorts do. I find this especially frustrating as my boyfriend's shorts have two zip pockets, but men's shorts won't fit me properly. I also find many pairs of shorts tend to ride up so that by stride five of my run, I already look like I'm wearing very voluminous knickers. It's annoying. Have you found pieces that work for you? My compromise is currently wearing longer, tight cycling shorts with a running belt to hold my phone. However, I find the belt jostles around a lot, and I'd prefer something a little less tight and revealing than the tight shorts. Running styles to try... Cricket – Sonia Twigg Women's sport reporter Sonia wears; Pace short sleeved top, £39.95 and Spin trousers, £54.95 (both Lacuna Sports); Spikes shoes, from a selection, Asics How long have you been playing cricket? I have played cricket for almost as long as I can remember, starting in the garden and then moving into club cricket and even county age group level up to under-17s. I then continued playing through university and into adulthood so it really has been a big part of my life. What do you typically wear to train/play? As an outdoor sport in England, cricket is very weather dependent. To train if it's warm I will probably wear shorts and a T-shirt, but for matches it's always long trousers and then a mixture of long-sleeve or short-sleeved shirts and even jumpers if it's cold enough. What are your frustrations with what is available in the market? When I was a teenager and playing a lot, I do not think they even made women's cricket shirts and trousers so I grew up wearing boys ones, which never fit right. Although there are now some limited options in the market I have always found the kit a bit restrictive when it comes to fitting a thigh pad underneath for batting or being comfortable in the field without being too baggy. Have you found pieces that work for you? To be honest no, at least not ones that fit perfectly. With my club's move to coloured kit there are also additional problems with wearing black trousers on a hot day as sometimes the material used is not breathable enough. Cricket styles to try... Yoga – Susanna Galton Health writer Susanna wears: Soft flow studio twist back vest, £35; Ultimate Studio leggings, £80 and Power pulse bra, £45, all Sweaty Betty; Grip socks, £16, Adanola How long have you been doing yoga? I've been doing Pilates for 15 years, yoga for six (did the teacher training in 2019 but ended up not teaching and stayed a journalist). I got into running five years ago and did two half marathons, but now run only once a week for 5k, I do yoga only once a week now and Pilates less frequently – but plan to do more) What do you typically wear to train/play? Leggings (high waisted and bum sculpting ideally) sports bra, loose vest top but tucked into my leggings, so I can check my form but so the top doesn't fall into my face when in inversion moves. Generally, bare feet but sometimes socks for Pilates with grip on soles (bare feet is better to be fair but unless I have time to paint toes I might hide them! I am a size 4.5) What are your frustrations with what is available in the market? Leggings that are too low and reveal my tummy (loose skin after three kids = bad look) or ones that don't suck in arse cheeks to make a smooth silhouette. Any leggings that go see through in downward dog are a big no no. Finding knickers is hard as G-strings look better but no one wants to floss their arse or show a whale tail when bending over. I also hate leggings that might give a camel toe – generally the Oner active ones have some seam at the front so you have action man/Barbie style genitals which is good, or preferable at least. Have you found pieces that work for you? Yes, by avoiding cheap leggings that go see through. Some sports G-strings are OK. Or go commando if you're doing a sweaty workout and it will all go in the wash after one wear anyway. I wear any trusty sports bra that gives shape without pushing up into a cleavage. I like a loose vest on top, but I buy very cheap ones as I prefer thin material anyway and I tuck them into the leggings. I don't mind if these are sheer as, if the sports bra is solid/bright coloured, I am happy for it to be visible underneath. I usually wear a sports bra and then a bra top too. Yoga styles to try... Netball – Lizzie Newton Publisher, Features & Lifestyle Lizzie wears: Seamless top, £35; skort, £52 and socks, £15 for three pairs (all Oner); Gel-Quantum 360 VIII netball trainers, £180, Asics How long have you been playing netball? I've been playing netball for 15 years. I went to a tiny village primary school (three girls in my year!) so joining sports teams wasn't really an option. When I joined my secondary school I went a bit mad with all the after-school clubs that were on offer. After starting to play for the netball team I fell in love with the sport and carried on playing weekly – throughout my time at university and now with a team in a social league in south-west London. What do you typically wear to train/play? When playing for a club I wore a netball dress which was exclusive to my team. However, now that I play in a social league the attire is casual sportswear. As we play on outdoor courts all year round, my clothing varies from shorts and a vest top in the warmer months, to sports leggings and a long-sleeved, fitted zip-up top in the winter. You do warm up very quickly so something with a zip or that's easy to fling off is always preferred. Long and double-lined socks are also a winner for grip and comfort when running – but also for aesthetics. What are your frustrations with what is available in the market? I get irritated at tops or shorts that ride up when playing. As it's a sport that involves a variety of movements (running, jumping, bending, stretching, etc) I find myself often having to readjust my shorts or pull my top back down. This is particularly problematic as a tall woman (5ft 11in). Netball dresses for games tend to be expensive and exclusive to the club you play for. It would be nice to see more skirts and dresses for general training as they are practical and fun (and look great). I have noticed more of these are becoming available, such as Lululemon's Shake it Out High Rise shorts. Tala have also released a number of skorts which come in a variety of fun, pastel colours. Have you found pieces that work for you? The double lined shorts are great, they're floaty but have an extra layer so you don't flash the rest of the team when jumping/ stretching over your opponent to mark them. Practically, they're not restrictive either. I love the pieces from Tala and Alo. Specific netball shoes are safer to play in for support and grip on the court – Asics are a good brand. Double layered socks are also excellent for movement and comfort when running. Netball styles to try... Tennis – Sarah Bailey Acting fashion director Sarah wears: Terry hat, £59; sweatshirt, £140; polo, £119 and shorts, £117 (all Spence); Eliot Runner trainers, £198 and tube socks, £20; (both Tracksmith) How long have you been playing tennis? I'm a mid-life convert to tennis. I took it up so I could play with my sons and share a hobby with them (it's easier to get on board with than playing Fortnit e/eating Doritos). I also do a group lesson every week at Parliament Hill Fields (with fellow grown-ups) which is a major stress reliever after a week of desk work. What do you typically wear to train/play? When I first started I just wore gym leggings and whatever sweatshirt was at hand, but as my quirky mum hobby progressed to become something I took a little more seriously, I wanted to wear tennis clothes that felt breezy in the summer and cosy through the winter months playing outdoors. Of course, you can't go wrong with a Uniqlo gilet over most things, but what I wanted most of all was shorts with pockets. What are your frustrations with what is available in the market? The strange assumption that every woman who plays sports is looking for spray-on bodycon that leaves nothing to the imagination. And at the risk of repeating myself, I am in despair about the dearth of pockets in women's shorts. Have you found pieces that work for you? For summer, I bought an Alo yoga skirt with ball pockets from Net-A-Porter, which is easy to wear (and looks really pleasing with an oversized sweatshirt). Leny has great shorts sets with an old school varsity feeling. But it's Spence, the brand created by Amanda Greeley, a passionate tennis aficionado, that really hits the spot for me, in terms of both utility and old skool style. Tennis styles to try... Styling by Sophie Tobin, additional shopping by Hansveni Dave and additional reporting: Olivia Jacobs
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Tsitsipas reappoints father after Ivanisevic split
Stefanos Tsitsipas has reappointed his father Apostolos as his coach following a split with former Wimbledon champion Goran Greek's brief stint with Ivanisevic came to an end last week, less than two months after the pair started working who guided Novak Djokovic to nine of his 24 Grand Slam titles, was critical of Tsitsipas and said "I have never seen such an unprepared player in my life" following his first-round exit at reached number three in the world under the guidance of his father, who was his full-time coach from an early age, but has slipped to number 30 since their split in 2024. "Some journeys have a way of circling back to where they began," Tsitsipas wrote on social media after a second-round defeat to Christopher O'Connell at the Canadian Open on Wednesday. "After some time apart, I've reunited with the person who first believed in me - my father."Sometimes, coming home is the boldest step forward."Tsitsipas parted ways with his father in a coaching capacity last August. The 26-year-old said earlier this week that his father "definitely made me lost my control" but that he regretted the messy nature of their break-up. "I think I have to be strict with him. Sometimes I feel like he wants to do too many things on his own," Tsitsipas said.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Raducanu reaches third round in Montreal
Emma Raducanu continued to build momentum before next month's US Open with a straight-set win over American Peyton Stearns at the Canadian number one Raducanu, a shock champion at the New York slam in 2021, progressed to the third round 6-2 22-year-old has won five of her six matches during the North American summer hard-court swing, after reaching the Washington Open last will next play Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova, after the American fifth seed defeated New Zealand's Lulu Sun 6-4 7-6 (7-5). World number 33 Raducanu proved too strong for 32nd seed Stearns and has now won all three meetings against early break put her in control of the first set before she took her sixth set point on her opponent's trailed 4-2 after falling a break down in the second, but produced an impressive finish with a run of four consecutive games to clinch victory."I'm really happy with how I came through in that match," Raducanu said."I kind of lost my focus at some moments in the second set and she took advantage, but very happy that I came through against a top opponent and happy to extend my stay in Montreal."I just want to say thank you [to supporters], I saw the Union Jack in clutch moments and I was actually born in Canada, so to me it means so much to do well here."
