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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Eugenie Bouchard bids adieu to tennis with hard-fought loss at National Bank Open
MONTREAL - Eugenie Bouchard waved goodbye to professional tennis with a hard-fought loss Wednesday night. The 31-year-old from Westmount, Que., electrified the home crowd, but bowed out to 17th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the National Bank Open's second round after announcing the tournament would be her last. Bouchard had extended her Montreal run with a first-round upset Monday night against Emiliana Arango — her first WTA Tour victory since 2023 — and showed flashes of the aggressive game that once powered her rise to world No. 5 in 2014. The local favourite turned back the clock again Wednesday by rallying from down a set, but Bencic held on to win the match in two hours 16 minutes. Montrealers packed the centre court stands at IGA Stadium, chanted 'Let's Go Genie!' and grew louder throughout the warm summer night, standing up for several ovations. 'It's so special to play my last match here in Montreal, on this court, in front of you guys,' Bouchard said during an on-court ceremony after the match, wiping tears from her eyes. '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 to finish my career here.' After winning the second set, Bouchard went up a break early in the third, taking a back-and-forth third game when Bencic sent her shot into the net on the Canadian's fifth break-point opportunity. Bencic, however, regrouped and broke back to tie at 3-3 in an error-filled game for Bouchard. Trailing 5-4 and needing to hold serve, Bouchard fell in a 40-love hole and sent her backhand wide while defending the second match point. 'Tennis has given me so much, I am filled with so much gratitude for this sport and all the people who helped me along the way,' Bouchard said before turning to her parents and siblings in attendance. 'I want you guys to know that when this crowd cheers for me, they're cheering for you guys too.' In a roller-coaster career, Bouchard peaked during a banner 2014 season, winning her only WTA title, reaching the Australian Open and French Open semis and becoming the first Canadian woman to play in a Grand Slam final in the open era at Wimbledon. But Bouchard's rapid rise also quickly came falling down after her 6-3, 6-0 loss to Petra Kvitova at the All England Club. Her highly anticipated homecoming one month later ended abruptly with a 6-0, 2-6, 6-0 loss against American qualifier Shelby Rogers at the then-called Rogers Cup. And the following year, Bouchard crashed out of the French Open and Wimbledon first rounds as losing streaks piled up. A run to the U.S. Open fourth round hinted at a return to form, until Bouchard suffered a concussion from slipping in the locker room — for which she later filed a lawsuit — forcing her to withdraw from the tournament. 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. She ramped up for her final event with the WTA 125 Hall of Fame Open in July — her first tournament since last year's NBO — and lost her opener in straight sets. Bencic now holds a 4-0 head-to-head advantage over Bouchard, including a first-round win at the 2015 Rogers Cup in Toronto en route to winning the title. The 28-year-old Bencic broke Bouchard early with a backhand winner in the third game. She then went up 5-2 with another break, with Bouchard spraying shots wide and into the net, before serving out the first set. In the second set, Bouchard found a rhythm with her forehand ground strokes, breaking Bencic with a winner that just touched the back line to go up 5-3. She then held serve to force a third set. Rising star Victoria Mboko is now the only Canadian remaining in the women's singles tournament. The 18-year-old from Toronto defeated 23rd seed Sofia Kenin on Tuesday and takes on Marie Bouzkova in the third round Thursday night. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Iga Swiatek helps settle Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner debate with 'inspiration' claim
Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek has opened up on the differing approaches to tennis taken by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as all three players prepare for the US Open Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek has given her verdict on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner's contrasting attitudes towards the sport. The world No. 3 secured her sixth Grand Slam title after sweeping past Amanda Anisimova at the All England Club. Swiatek impressively surrendered just one set during her march to her first Wimbledon crown and has credited her work ethic as key to her success. Fellow Wimbledon victor Sinner shares a similar philosophy after proclaiming that "hard work beats talent" in the aftermath of his SW19 triumph. However, Swiatek has admitted to drawing inspiration from Alcaraz's more relaxed attitude and dedication to savouring his downtime away from tennis. Following his French Open victory last month, the Spaniard made his annual trip to party in Ibiza before reaching another Wimbledon final. "I wish I was more like Carlos because I have got to say he is a big inspiration in terms of that," Swiatek told TVA Sports. "He always says that the most important thing for him on a tennis court is to enjoy it and have fun and I sometimes forget about that. "And sometimes with all the pressure around and things we need to do off the court, you need to remind yourself about this kid that started playing tennis, instead of winning for somebody and having this baggage on your shoulders. "For sure, when Carlos shows that and when he speaks about that, it is always a good reminder for me, and I try to do that as well, but without me working on it, I think my mind would automatically go to just working, working, working." Alcaraz jetted off for a brief getaway to Ibiza following his triumph over Sinner in their memorable French Open showdown at Roland Garros. Whilst other elite players would not dream of taking a break during such a pivotal period in the tennis season, the same routine had served as Alcaraz's preparation before winning two consecutive Wimbledon championships. This year, on his return to action, he claimed the Queen's title and made it to the Wimbledon final. Yet, world No. 1 Sinner takes a more disciplined approach than his leading rival. When asked about the formula behind his success after securing his fourth Grand Slam crown, Sinner said: "I always say that hard work beats talent. And that's what I try to do. "I always go on a practice court with a purpose, and I believe that the mindset you start to build in practice sessions, when you struggle, when you have pain, when you at times don't want to practice, but you still go and you still do everything possible to make it a good day. If you cannot do it in practice sessions, then you cannot do it in the real matches." Meanwhile, Swiatek remains determined to build on her Wimbledon win at the Canadian Open, where she faces Guo Hanyu in the second round on Wednesday. The 24-year-old has had time to contemplate her Wimbledon victory and assess how it compares to her earlier accomplishments. "For sure, winning Wimbledon is something special. I think it was much different because I just haven't expected it," Swiatek admitted. "I didn't feel the relief as I did at Roland Garros because everyone was expecting me to win. "I just felt super proud of myself. I thought that tennis can still surprise me and it was all so refreshing. That's why I'm super happy because it wasn't on my list this year to win Wimbledon and it happened. So I enjoyed this feeling and try to keep it with me for as long as possible."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Boris Becker slams Alexander Zverev's mental health admission as a mistake
Alexander Zverev was beaten in the first round at Wimbledon before opening up on his struggles away from the court, with Boris Becker questioning his decision to do so German tennis legend Boris Becker has claimed Alexander Zverev made an error in judgement when discussing his mental health struggles following his shock first-round exit at Wimbledon. Zverev, 28, has long been earmarked as a future Grand Slam champion but he has been plagued by controversy. Whilst he has reached the final of every major tournament apart from SW19, the world No. 3 has yet to fulfil the lofty expectations many had predicted for him. Zverev's dreams of claiming a maiden major at Wimbledon were crushed in the opening round this summer when he suffered defeat to Arthur Rinderknech. Following the loss, he spoke candidly about his recent difficulties and garnered backing from numerous supporters. Nevertheless, Becker, a three-time Wimbledon winner, believes that Zverev wasn't given proper guidance by his entourage and should have kept his private torment under wraps. "Alexander Zverev is like an adopted son to me in the sports world; I feel a lot of empathy for him," Becker, 57, said via Tennis365. "If I had been his coach, I would have advised him not to disclose that information about his mental state in the Wimbledon press conference. The ideal thing is not to open up to the world when one is eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam." Becker reinforced his faith that Zverev can recapture his previous form however, adding: "Perhaps it was the revelation he needed. I am convinced that he will win his Grand Slam and that he can become number one at some point. Becoming number one is challenging, but staying number one is the most difficult thing in the world." Following his surprising departure at the All England Club, Zverev left the tennis world stunned with his frank admission. "I've never felt this empty before. Just lacking joy, just lacking joy in everything that I do," he said. "It's not necessarily about tennis. Just lacking joy outside of tennis, as well. I don't think tennis is the problem right now for me. It's something else that I have to find within me at the moment. But something within me has to change, which is not necessarily on the tennis court. "It's funny, I feel very alone out there at times. I struggle mentally. It's difficult to find joy outside the tennis court for me at the moment. "It's not an excuse or anything. I think Arthur deserved to win. It's something I've felt for the past few months. Again, I just feel generally very, very alone and very lonely. I don't know. Just never felt that way before." Beyond the court, Zverev has found himself embroiled in scandal. He faced domestic abuse allegations from his ex-girlfriend. Zverev refuted the accusations and challenged the order, leading to a public trial that was subsequently dropped. "I've been through a lot of difficulties. I've been through a lot of difficulties in the media. I've been through a lot of difficulties in life generally," he added following his defeat at Wimbledon. "It's just not there right now for me, which, again, is the first time in my life, which I'm feeling." Zverev is set to compete next at the Canadian Open, where he will go head-to-head with Australian Adam Walton in Tuesday's round of 64.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Bouchard set for final tournament after paving the way for Canada's future stars
MONTREAL - Victoria Mboko was only seven years old when Eugenie Bouchard captivated the country — and the tennis world — with her run to the Wimbledon final. But Mboko still remembers its magnitude because of how Bouchard's achievements shaped the future of Canadian tennis. 'She paved the way for so many other generations to look up to that,' said Mboko, an 18-year-old rising star from Toronto. 'It impacted Canadian tennis in a way that she was the first one to do so. 'A really big deal.' Bouchard became the first Canadian woman in the open era to contest a Grand Slam singles final when she lost to Petra Kvitova at the All England Club in 2014. That same landmark season, the then-20-year-old reached the Australian Open and French Open semifinals, captured a WTA title in Nuremberg, Germany, and ascended to No. 5 in the world rankings. Her aggressive playstyle and charisma on the court also attracted fans across the globe, including 'Genie's Army' — a group of Australian supporters that began rallying around the phenom at that year's Aussie Open. More than a decade later, without ever reaching those 2014 heights again, Bouchard is hanging up her racket. The 31-year-old from Westmount, Que., — who has steadily stepped away from the pro tennis tour over the years — will begin her final tournament against Colombia's Emiliana Arango at the National Bank Open in Montreal after announcing last week she would retire at the end of her hometown event. The feelings, Bouchard said, are bittersweet. 'There's sadness in there. Happiness, relief, excitement,' she said at a news conference after Saturday's draw, the timing of her first match not yet announced. 'It'll be an emotional week for sure, but I just want to try to embrace every moment … so when I look back when I'm sixty years old, I'll have these nice, happy memories of celebrating and appreciating my career. 'Let's see it as a party, you guys. It's not a funeral.' Canada's past and future will be on display at the National Bank Open. While Bouchard plays in her final tournament, Mboko, perhaps Canada's next best shot at a women's singles Grand Slam run after Bianca Andreescu and Leylah Fernandez followed Bouchard's footsteps, will compete in her first main draw in Montreal. Mboko, who's American-born and of Congolese descent, has skyrocketed up the WTA rankings from No. 333 at the start of this year to 88th heading into her first-round matchup Sunday afternoon against Australia's Kimberly Birrell. The big-serving, attack-minded player has a stellar 45-8 record in all competitions this year, including three qualifying and two main draw wins at the French Open, her first Grand Slam. At Wimbledon, she qualified for the main draw as a lucky loser and upset No. 25 seed Magdalena Frech in the opening round. Mboko is trying to take it all in stride. 'When I rose in the rankings like that, it went really fast. I think it was a little bit fast for me,' she said. 'I haven't really gotten much of an opportunity to reflect on what has happened in the past couple of months because in tennis, we're always so looking forward to the next tournament. 'I haven't really had a chance to settle in and realize the results I have done.' Bouchard, meanwhile, reflected on the ups and downs of her career, highlighting her Grand Slam success and the 2016 Rio Olympics, and some lower points. 'It's hard to live a life without regret,' she said. 'I'm sure I can think of specific moments where I now I would say, 'Ah, I should have done this instead,' but at the same time I did what I thought was best for me at that time.' Her advice to Mboko? 'Vicky is doing great,' she said. 'I don't know if she needs advice. 'I remember practising with her years ago when she was 14, we always knew she would be really good.' This year's edition features a revamped 12-day, 96-player format. The top 32 seeds, including world No. 2 Coco Gauff, two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula and Wimbledon winner Iga Swiatek, received byes to the second round. No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is absent due to fatigue. A record nine Canadians are in the main draw after Ariana Arseneault of Richmond Hill, Ont., advanced through qualifying. Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., who won the tournament in Toronto in 2019, faces a tough opening matchup against Czechia's Barbora Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam champion, on Sunday night. Fernandez of Laval, Que. — the top-ranked Canadian at 36th in the world — meets American Maya Joint. Carson Branstine, Kayla Cross, Marina Stakusic and veteran Rebecca Marino will also take the court in Montreal, where Bouchard will be the main attraction. 'Just an incredible career,' Marino said. 'She achieved what many of us aspire to achieve as well, and I think it inspired a lot of younger generations to come up that we're seeing now. 'It's great that she's had that influence on Canadian tennis, Canadian sport as a whole. It's bittersweet to see her retiring because I really admire her game, but I think we're all celebrating what an amazing career she's had.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2025.
NBC Sports
7 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Daniil Medvedev won a U.S. Open and made 5 other hard-court Grand Slam finals, so this is his time to shine
WASHINGTON — Daniil Medvedev figures this is his time to shine: He loves playing tennis on hard courts like those used at the D.C. Open. And he loves the U.S. Open, in particular. Doesn't matter what else he's done this season or how things ended for him at the Australian Open, French Open or Wimbledon. He's reached six Grand Slam finals in his career — all on hard courts. 'Usually, this is the most important part of the season for me,' Medvedev said in an interview in Washington, where he was scheduled to play Corentin Moutet in the quarterfinals. 'And this year, it's really important for me, because I didn't have the best year. I had a lot of time after Wimbledon, so I'm feeling ready and I feel in good shape.' After dropping his opening set at the D.C. Open against big-serving Reilly Opelka, Medvedev took the next four sets he played at an event where he was the runner-up in 2019. What works so well for the 29-year-old Russian on hard courts? 'A lot of different things. My ball goes through the air the most. My serve goes faster. And this year, the courts seem pretty fast. On the ATP lately, the courts seem to only get slower and slower. But here it's super fast. I like the way it plays,' said Medvedev, who has been ranked No. 1 and now is No. 14, his lowest spot in more than six years. 'It's one thing to like the way it plays and it's another thing to win. But I do feel like I can do big things.' He certainly has in the past. Any list would have to start with his championship at the 2021 U.S. Open, where his victory in the final prevented Novak Djokovic from completing the first calendar-year Grand Slam by a man since Rod Laver in 1969. Medvedev was the runner-up to Rafael Nadal in New York in 2019 — who could forget the back-and-forths with spectators that year? — and then to Djokovic in 2023. Medvedev also participated in three finals at the Australian Open, losing to Djokovic in 2021, to Nadal in 2022 and to current No. 1 Jannik Sinner in 2024. He's twice been a semifinalist on Wimbledon's grass, and even made it to the quarterfinals at the French Open on red clay, his least favorite surface. This time around, Medvedev bowed out in the second round of the Australian Open in January, and then the first round of both the French Open in May and Wimbledon in June. He hadn't lost consecutive first-round matches at majors since 2017 — in his first two appearances at those events. Asked whether he tends to dwell on that sort of thing or tries to forget it, Medvedev said he would put himself 'kind of in the middle.' 'It does bother me,' he said, thinking back to his 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 setback against 64th-ranked Benjamin Bonzi at the All England Club. 'Like after Wimbledon, I was sitting there, and I actually felt like I didn't play that bad. And you're losing (in the) first round. You know that the guy is probably going to lose in the second or third round — he did lose in the second round. You're like, 'Damn, I didn't play that bad and I'm losing first round of a Grand Slam, second time in a row.'' Medvedev said he got over it, in part, by heading to Ibiza for a couple of days of relaxing on the beach and having fun. And then it was time to get back to work — with a positive mindset. 'I know that when I come back to this level, I can beat anyone. And so that's where the optimism is coming from,' he said. 'Just work hard and try to find back this rhythm, this level, and then results can come and rankings can come.'
