Eugenie Bouchard Announces Retirement at National Bank Open in Montreal
Eugenie Bouchard Announces Retirement from Tennis at National Bank Open
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canadian tennis icon Eugenie Bouchard has announced her retirement from professional tennis, with her final tournament set to be the National Bank Open in Montreal. The hometown favorite, who reached a career-high ranking of World No. 5 in her breakout 2014 season, will receive a main-draw wild card into the WTA 1000 hardcourt event, which commences on July 26.
Tennis Canada confirmed Bouchard’s retirement in a news release Wednesday, marking an emotional end to a career that inspired a generation of Canadian athletes.
A Trailblazing Career Defined by a Stellar 2014
Born in Montreal, Bouchard etched her name in tennis history in 2014 by becoming the first Canadian woman in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam singles final, achieving this feat at Wimbledon. Though she fell to Petra Kvitova in straight sets, her performance captivated the nation.
That same year, bouchard also reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and the French Open, qualifying for the WTA Finals and earning the tour’s most improved player award. Her sole WTA title came at the clay-court Nuremberg Cup.”She has been one of the most crucial figures in the history of our sport in Canada and a trailblazer who redefined what Canadian tennis could be,” said Valerie Tetreault, the National Bank Open tournament director. “We are proud of everything she has done, as a player and role model, and we can’t wait to see her in action one last time at IGA Stadium this summer.”
Overcoming Adversity and Contributing to Canadian Tennis
Despite facing challenges with injuries, including a concussion sustained at the 2015 U.S. Open, and inconsistent form that prevented her from replicating her 2014 success, Bouchard remained a vital presence for Canada’s women’s team.
The 31-year-old represented Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games and amassed 13 match wins across 10 billie Jean King Cup ties.Notably, she partnered with Gabriela Dabrowski for two crucial doubles victories in the group stage, contributing to Canada’s historic first-ever BJK Cup title in 2023.
Bouchard shared her decision on the X social media platform, stating, “You’ll know when it’s time. For me, it’s now. Ending where it all started: Montreal.”
Tennis Canada CEO Gavin Ziv lauded Bouchard’s impact, saying, “Few athletes have left as profound a mark on Canadian tennis as Genie has throughout her exceptional career. Her achievements early in her career were things that many thought would be unachievable for Canadian players.”
Ziv further emphasized her legacy: ”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 unbelievable ambassador for our sport and, on behalf of Tennis Canada, I want to thank her for everything she’s done.”
Key Withdrawals Ahead of National Bank Open
In related news, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and 10th-ranked Paula Badosa have both withdrawn from the upcoming National Bank Open.
Sabalenka, 27, cited fatigue as the reason for her withdrawal, stating that skipping the WTA 1000 event would give her the best chance of success during the upcoming hard-court season. She expressed her disappointment at missing her Canadian fans.
Badosa, meanwhile, is dealing with a back injury sustained during her first-round Wimbledon match, which will sideline her for several weeks.
In their stead, Caty McNally of the United States and Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima have been awarded main-draw wild cards into the tournament. The National Bank Open is scheduled to begin on July 26 at IGA Stadium.