Canadian tennis sensation Eugenie Bouchard, who soared to No. 5 in the WTA rankings during her phenomenal 2014 season, is set to retire from professional tennis at this year’s National Bank Open in Montreal.
Tennis Canada announced Bouchard’s retirement during a press release ahead of her hometown tournament, confirming she will receive a main-draw wild card for the WTA 1000 hardcourt event, commencing July 26.
In a remarkable 2014, Bouchard made history by reaching the Wimbledon women’s final, where she faced off against Petra Kvitova, ultimately finishing as runner-up. She became the first Canadian woman in the open era to compete in a Grand Slam singles final.
She also dazzled fans by reaching the semifinals at both the Australian Open and the French Open, while qualifying for the WTA Finals that same year. This earned her the title of the tour’s most improved player, and she clinched her only WTA title at the Nuremberg Cup on clay.
Though injuries, including a concussion during the 2015 U.S. Open, and occasional inconsistencies held her back from replicating her earlier success, Bouchard remained a vital member of Canada’s women’s team.
The 31-year-old Westmount, Quebec native represented Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games and achieved an impressive 13 match wins over 10 Billie Jean King Cup ties. In 2023, she teamed with Gabriela Dabrowski to secure two group-stage doubles victories, contributing to Canada’s first-ever BJK Cup title.
“You’ll know when it’s time. For me, that moment is now. I am ending where it all began: Montreal,” Bouchard shared on the social media platform X.
Gavin Ziv, the CEO of Tennis Canada, also expressed gratitude towards Bouchard for her immense contributions to the sport in Canada.
“Few athletes have made as significant an impact on Canadian tennis as Genie. Her extraordinary career defied odds and broke barriers that many deemed impossible for Canadian players,” Ziv stated in a release. He noted how her early achievements included a Wimbledon final and a Billie Jean King Cup championship, calling them “extraordinary milestones that catalyzed tennis development in our nation.” He added, “Genie has been, and continues to be, an incredible ambassador for our sport, and on behalf of Tennis Canada, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for everything she has accomplished.”
