Latest news with #IGAStadium
CTV News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Eugenie Bouchard bids adieu to tennis with hard-fought loss at National Bank Open
Eugenie Bouchard of Canada hits a return to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during second round tennis action at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi) Eugenie Bouchard waved goodbye to professional tennis with a hard-fought loss Wednesday night. The 31-year-old from Westmount, Que., bowed out to 17th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in a second-round match at the National Bank Open after announcing the hometown 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. 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 shot wide while defending the second match point. 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 held a 3-0 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. By Daniel Rainbird This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.
National Post
3 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
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. Article content The 31-year-old from Westmount, Que., bowed out to 17th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in a second-round match at the National Bank Open after announcing the hometown tournament would be her last. Article content Article content 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. Article content Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content Bencic, however, regrouped and broke back to tie at 3-3 in an error-filled game for Bouchard. Article content Trailing 5-4 and needing to hold serve, Bouchard fell in a 40-love hole and sent her shot wide while defending the second match point. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content Bencic held a 3-0 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 Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Eugenie Bouchard delays retirement with first win in two years as she prepares to quit tennis for different sport
PIN-UP Eugenie Bouchard has delayed her retirement plans by at least one more match after making a winning return in her home city. 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
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Eugenie Bouchard extends career, wins thrilling first-round match at Canadian Open
When Eugenie Bouchard stepped out onto IGA Stadium, waving to the boisterous Montreal crowd, there was a likelihood this could be her final professional tennis match. Her retirement from the sport will be put on hold. The Canadian dazzled in front of the home fans Monday night, winning in three thrilling sets 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 against world No. 82 Emiliana Arango in 2 hours and 14 minutes to advance to the second round of the Canadian Open. At least for one match, Bouchard, 31, showed the natural athleticism and tenacious grit that made her a past Wimbledon finalist. The crowd at @OBNmontreal was loving Eugenie Bouchard's win. 🇨🇦 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 29, 2025 It was the ideal start for Bouchard. She was hitting deep groundstroke winners and extending rallies with her court coverage. But down 3-2 after an early break, there was fear that this finale could be over quickly. Bouchard had other ideas. She started moving to the net more, unleashing her trademark dry volleys and crosscourt forehand smashes. Her first serve was efficient, winning 81.3 percent of the points. Arango started piling up errors, sailing a forehand long to give Bouchard the immediate break back and level the set at 3-3. On set point up 5-4, Bouchard connected on a forehand crosscourt winner, taking the opening set in 42 minutes. Advertisement The second set saw Bouchard increase her unforced errors. She struggled at the net, only winning one of 10 points there and paving the way for Arango to take the second set. The third set saw lengthy games and grueling rallies. But it was Bouchard who got the first break of the third to go up 3-1, resulting in a fist pump. Fans were on their feet, several of them high-fiving each other. The sound became deafening as Bouchard got closer to the finish line. Even holding serve to consolidate the break and go up 4-1, with a forehand crosscourt shot that Arango couldn't handle, led to loud roars. On her home turf! ❤️@geniebouchard takes the first set 6-4 over Arango. #OBN25 — wta (@WTA) July 28, 2025 Bouchard bellowed out a 'come on.' She wasn't ending her career on this night, taking a commanding double-break lead at 5-1. Arango broke to stay in the match at 5-2, but it wasn't enough. Bouchard kept bothering the Colombian with her deep groundstrokes, winning 75 percent of Arango's second serve return points. The Canadian ultimately broke serve for a third time to stay alive in her final tournament. When Arango's backhand sailed wide, Bouchard put her hands on her head and smiled to her box, which included family members, coach Sylvain Bruneau and Tennis Canada Billie Jean King Cup captain Heidi El Tabakh. There were tears in Bouchard's eyes as she waved to the raucous crowd, thanking them for their support in lifting her to this monumental victory. It was Bouchard's first match win on the WTA Tour since the Guadalajara Open in 2023. Before Monday, Bouchard's last victory in Canada was in 2016. Bouchard, whose career-high ranking was No. 5, announced on July 16 that she would retire from professional tennis following this year's Canadian Open. A native of Montreal, Bouchard wrote: 'You'll know when it's time. For me, it's now. Ending where it all started: Montreal.' Bouchard's banner year on the WTA Tour was 2014, where she made two slam semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros and the Wimbledon final. She became the first Canadian (man or woman) to reach a slam singles final. Bouchard has one singles and one doubles title on the WTA Tour and helped Canada win its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup in 2023. Her professional career is still a go after the epic victory Monday over Arango. Up next for the Canadian is world No. 20 Belinda Bencic. They have met three times previously, with Bencic winning all three. Regardless of what happens next, Bouchard will always have this night in her home of Montreal to remember forever.
National Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Canada's Victoria Mboko tops Aussie Kimberly Birrell in National Bank Open debut
MONTREAL — Toronto's Victoria Mboko made good on her first impression in front of the Montreal faithful Sunday in opening-round action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament. Article content Mboko, making her main draw debut on home soil, powered her way past Australia's Kimberly Birrell 7-5, 6-3 on a scorching afternoon on IGA Stadium's Centre Court. Article content Article content 'Today was really fun,' said Mboko. 'It was a really fun experience playing in front of the Canadian crowd for the first time in Montreal. Playing on the Centre Court was a little bit nervous (for me) at the beginning, but I'd say throughout the match it kind of got better and I felt more confident towards the end.' Article content Article content Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga continued that momentum into the evening session, defeating Czechia's Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4 in a battle of former Grand Slam champions. The match, however, almost ended in devastation for Andreescu as she fell to the ground with a left ankle injury while serving for the match. The Canadian received a lengthy medical timeout, but was able to wrap up the match two points later. Article content 'You guys are everything, honestly,' said an emotional Andreescu during an on-court, post-match interview. 'Thank you so, so much. These moments are never easy. I'm just super happy that I was able to pull through and it was thanks to you guys. Thank you so much.' Article content Andreescu was not made available to the media following the match because of the injury. An update is expected on Monday following more extensive medical exams. Article content Mboko utilized her big and powerful service game, hammering 15 aces, which regularly exceeded 180 kilometres per hour. She also mixed in some solid forehand winners to energize the crowd all throughout her 90-plus minutes on court. Article content Article content 'I kind of surprised myself a little bit in the match where I was serving really well,' she said. 'I just wanted to have a really good first serve percentage, honestly in the whole match. I didn't know I was going to serve like that. It gave me a lot of advantages and free points. Article content 'I think that also was a big factor in the match to help me gain those points where I really needed them. Hopefully, I can continue like that.' Article content Mboko spent countless moments signing autographs for fans, young and old, awaiting her signature both inside and outside the stadium. She even sprinkled in some French during her on-court post-match interview. Article content 'I know a lot of them were really there just to support me, whether I won or lost a point,' said Mboko. 'I was really grateful for that. I think it really helped me as well to get through the match.' Article content Mboko got off to a strong start, breaking Birrell on the Aussie's opening service game to go up 2-0. However, Birrell immediately broke back the following game.
