MONTREAL — Eugenie Bouchard did not seem like a participant limping into retirement.
You would be forgiven for pondering she was nonetheless in her prime.
On heart courtroom in her hometown, Bouchard delivered an exhilarating efficiency – and a heartfelt goodbye to tennis – with a hard-fought loss in her last match Wednesday night time.
“I’ve all the time had a sense I might finish my profession right here,” Bouchard stated. “Montreal is the place I used to be born and raised, so it simply feels proper. An emotional second. I believe I simply wished a second like this as a result of my profession deserved a second like this.
“I actually suppose I obtained it tonight, and I am so grateful for that.”
The 31-year-old bowed out 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 within the Nationwide Financial institution Open’s second spherical in opposition to seventeenth seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland however electrified the gang in opposition to a top-tier opponent – displaying flashes of the assertive recreation that after powered her rise to world No. 5 in 2014.
So is she certain about retiring?
“My sister stated she began a petition with followers within the crowd, and everybody signed it, so now I’ve no selection however to rescind my retirement,” Bouchard stated, smiling. “However there’s lots of onerous work that goes into tennis. It was nice to have the ability to carry out effectively, nevertheless it’s such a tricky lifetime of sacrifice and onerous work.
“I’ve given a lot to tennis, and it is given me a lot, however I do really feel prepared to maneuver on from that and do different issues in life, however I’ll endlessly be glad about what tennis has given me.”
Bouchard had prolonged her Montreal run with a throwback first-round upset Monday night time in opposition to Emiliana Arango, her first WTA Tour victory since 2023.
The native favourite turned again the clock once more Wednesday by rallying from down a set, however Bencic held on to win the match in two hours, 16 minutes.
Followers packing the stands at IGA Stadium chanted “Let’s Go Genie!” and grew louder all through the night time, standing for a number of ovations.
Bouchard returned the favor with an emotional, teary-eyed speech throughout an on-court ceremony.
“It is so particular to play my final match right here in Montreal, on this courtroom, in entrance of you guys,” she stated. “I bear in mind being a little bit child, sitting in these stands, hoping and dreaming that I might play on this courtroom sooner or later.
“It seems like such a full-circle second.”
And her profession nearly continued a little bit longer.
After a tough first set, Bouchard bounced again to win the second and went up a break early within the third, successful a back-and-forth third recreation when Bencic’s shot dipped into the web on the Canadian’s fifth breakpoint alternative.
Bencic regrouped and broke again to tie at 3-3 as Bouchard sprayed photographs vast and lengthy. Trailing 5-4 and needing to carry serve, Bouchard fell in a 40-love gap and despatched her backhand vast whereas defending the second match level, ending her upset bid.
“I knew I may win the match,” she stated. “It was actually shut from the second onward.”
As an alternative, it marks the top of a roller-coaster profession.
Bouchard peaked throughout the 2014 season, successful her solely WTA singles title, reaching the Australian Open and French Open semis and turning into the primary Canadian to play in a Grand Slam singles last at Wimbledon.
However Bouchard’s speedy rise at 20 additionally rapidly got here falling down after her 6-3, 6-0 loss to Petra Kvitova on the All England Membership.
Her extremely anticipated homecoming one month later ended abruptly with a 6-0, 2-6, 6-0 loss in opposition to American qualifier Shelby Rogers on the then-called Rogers Cup. And the next yr, Bouchard crashed out of the French Open and Wimbledon first rounds as dropping streaks piled up.
A run to the U.S. Open fourth spherical hinted at a return to type, till Bouchard suffered a concussion from slipping within the locker room – for which she later filed a lawsuit – forcing her to withdraw from the event.
Lately, Bouchard has sporadically performed on the professional tennis circuit, spending extra time on the PPA Pickleball Tour, the place she ranks twelfth in singles.
She ramped up for her last occasion with the WTA 125 Corridor of Fame Open in July – her first event since final yr’s Nationwide Financial institution Open – and misplaced her opener in straight units.
As for what’s subsequent, Bouchard says she seems to be ahead to sleeping in, happening trip and reflecting on what she needs to do with the remainder of her life.
“I really feel like I missed out as a result of I did not go to school and did not go to high school,” she stated. “Diving into the TV stuff extra is unquestionably one thing I get pleasure from, in order that’s a possible subsequent step. I imply, are any of you guys hiring (laughing)? I do not know find out how to even write – what do you even name it if you …”.
The phrase Bouchard was on the lookout for? Resume.
“I do not even have a kind of,” she stated. “Perhaps my agent can provide you with one for me. I am not used to doing that.”
