MONTREAL — Eugenie Bouchard didn’t look like a player stepping into retirement.
You will be allowed to think she is still in her prime.
On her hometown centre court, Bouchard said a thrilling performance and a heartfelt goodbye to tennis — a fierce battle defeat in the final match on Wednesday night.
“I always felt like I was going to end my career here,” Bouchard said. “Montreal is where I was born and raised, so I feel that’s just right. It’s an emotional moment. I think I’d wanted a moment like this because my career deserves it.
“I think I got it tonight, so I’m very grateful.”
The 31-year-old resigned 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the second round of the National Bank Open against Switzerland’s 17th Seed Belindavensik, but showed a flash of assertive game that rose to fifth in the world in 2014.
Is she confident about retirement?
“My sister said she started a petition with fans in the crowd, so I signed everyone, so now I have no choice but to withdraw my retirement,” Bouchard said with a laugh. “But there’s a lot of hard work in tennis. I’m glad I did it, but it’s a tough life of sacrifice and effort.
“I’ve given tennis a lot, and it’s been given to me so much, but I feel ready to go from there and do other things in life, but I’m forever grateful for what tennis has given me.”
Bouchard extended Montreal’s run with a shaking at the lead in the lead on Monday night against Emiliana Arango, the first WTA Tour victory since 2023.
Local favourites returned the clock on Wednesday by gathering down the set, but the Bensik won the match in two hours and 16 minutes.
Fans packing the stands on the Iga Stadium chanted “Let’s Go Genie!” And they grew big all night and stood for some applause.
Bouchard returned his favor with an emotional, teary-eyed speech at the on-court ceremony.
“It’s very special to have my last match here in Montreal, in this courtroom, in front of you guys,” she said. “I’m a little kid and I remember sitting in these stands and dreaming of hoping to play on this court one day.
“It feels like such a full circul moment.”
And her career lasted a little longer.
After a difficult first set, Bouchard won his second victory, taking a break early in the third, winning the third game that he had to go round and back when Bensik’s shot fell to the net on the occasion of Canada’s fifth breakpoint.
The Vensik was reorganized and sprayed a wide shot at 3-3, so he tied at 3-3. As they must chase 5-4 and hold the serve, Bouchard fell into the hole of 40 love and sent a big backhand while defending the second match point, finishing his upset bid.
“I knew I could win the match,” she said. “It was really close to the second one.”
Instead, it marks the end of a roller coaster career.
Bouchard peaked during the 2014 season, winning the only WTA singles title, reaching the Australian Open and French Open semis, becoming the first Canadian to play in the Grand Slam Singles Final at Wimbledon.
But Bouchard’s rapid rise in 20 also fell shortly after losing 6-3, 6-0 to Petrak Vitova at the All-England Club.
Her long-awaited homecoming a month later ended abruptly with a 6-0, 2-6, 6-0 defeat against American qualifier Shelby Rogers in the then Rogers Cup. And the following year, Bouchard crashed from the first round of the French Open and Wimbledon, with losses piling up.
From Bouchard slipping in the locker room to suffer a concussion, the US run to the four-round open hinted at a return to form.
In recent years, Bouchard has played sporadically on the professional tennis circuit and spent more time on the PPA pickleball tour, where he ranks 12th in singles.
She held the WTA 125 Hall of Fame in July, her first tournament since the National Bank Open last year, and rose to head for the final event and lost the opening game in straight sets.
As for the next thing, Bouchard says he looks forward to seeing her on vacation and reflecting on what she wants to do for the rest of her life.
“I didn’t go to college, I didn’t go to school, so I feel like I missed it,” she said. “Diving into TV more is definitely something I enjoy. It’s likely the next step. So, whether you’re hiring them lol? I don’t even know how to write them – what are you calling it?”
Have you been looking for the word Bouchard? resume.
“I don’t even have one of them,” she said. “Maybe my agent can come up with it for me. I’m not used to doing it.”
