Eugenie Bouchard Bids Emotional Farewell to Tennis in Hometown Montreal.
Montreal, Canada – Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard, 31, was overcome with emotion on Wednesday night as she played the final match of her professional career at the National Bank Open in Montreal, the very city where her journey in tennis began. Bouchard’s retirement, announced earlier this month, brought a poignant end to a career that saw her reach the pinnacle of the sport before battling a series of setbacks.
In her farewell match, Bouchard, who had impressed in her opening round, was defeated by Swiss counterpart Belinda Bencic in a hard-fought three-set encounter, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Following the match, a tearful Bouchard addressed the appreciative home crowd, expressing profound gratitude to her family, coaches, and support team who had been instrumental throughout her journey.
“Tennis has given me so much. I am filled with so much gratitude for this sport and the people that helped me along the way,” Bouchard stated, her voice thick with emotion. She paused, struggling to compose herself as the crowd offered a wave of supportive applause, before continuing to thank her loved ones. “I want to thank my mom, dad, sisters, & brother for their sacrifice and support. I want you to know when this crowd cheers for me, they’re cheering for you too. I wouldn’t be here without you.” She also extended her appreciation to “all the coaches, physios, trainers, everyone I’ve worked with. You all know who you are. Because of your hard work I was able to live out my dreams, thank you!”
Bouchard’s decision to retire in her hometown tournament was revealed in a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter), where she wrote: “You’ll know when it’s time. For me, it’s now. Ending where it all started: Montreal.” This full-circle moment allowed fans to celebrate her impact on Canadian tennis one last time.
Her breakout year came in 2014, when she achieved a career-high WTA ranking of No. 5. That season, she reached the semifinals of both the Australian Open and the French Open, and made history as the first Canadian woman in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon, ultimately losing to Petra Kvitova. She also won her lone singles title in Nuremberg that year.
However, her career trajectory was significantly altered after a pivotal incident at the 2015 U.S. Open. Bouchard suffered a concussion after slipping on a wet locker room floor, forcing her to withdraw from the tournament before her fourth-round match. This injury led to a lawsuit against the U.S. Tennis Association, with a jury finding the organization 75 percent at fault. While she reached a confidential settlement, the lingering effects of the concussion and subsequent injuries contributed to a decline in her ranking and form.
Beyond the Court: New Pursuits and Enduring Legacy
Despite the challenges on the tennis court, Bouchard remained a prominent public figure. She made the top 10 of Forbes’ World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes list in both 2017 and 2018, leveraging her significant popularity and engaging in various sponsorship campaigns and high-profile events. However, in a 2024 interview with The Times, she spoke openly about the “hate” she sometimes received for her social media activity, reflecting the intense scrutiny often faced by public figures.
In recent years, Bouchard had increasingly diversified her athletic pursuits, notably transitioning to pickleball. She had played only one WTA tour match prior to the National Bank Open, having dedicated more time to the Professional Pickleball Association Tour.
Valerie Tetreault, the National Bank Open tournament director, lauded Bouchard’s indelible mark on Canadian tennis. “She has been one of the most important figures in the history of our sport in Canada and a trailblazer who redefined what Canadian tennis could be,” Tetreault stated. “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.”
While her final match marks the end of a chapter in professional tennis, Eugenie Bouchard’s legacy as a groundbreaking Canadian athlete and her journey through the highs and lows of elite sports will undoubtedly continue to inspire.