In an exciting tennis match, Genie Bouchard extended her career at least one more game, after defeating Emiliana Arango in the first round of the National Bank Open. Bouchard, who reached the Wimbledon final and two Grand Slam semi-finals in 2014, had announced her retirement after participating in the tournament in her hometown. The Canadian tennis player achieved her first victory on the WTA circuit since 2023, marking the 300th of her career, and advanced to face Belinda Bencic, the number 17 seed. Bouchard, who reached the number 5 spot in the ranking in 2014, has been playing mainly pickleball and had only played one match this season before receiving an invitation to the Montreal tournament. After splitting the first two sets, Bouchard broke Arango’s serve, ranked 82nd, twice to take a 5-1 lead in the decisive third set. Arango managed to recover a point when Bouchard was serving for the match, leaving the score at 5-2, but the Canadian went ahead 40-0 in the next game. Arango sent her backhand out on Bouchard’s second match point. After the victory, Bouchard waved and blew kisses to the audience.
In other results, Emma Raducanu, competing just two days after losing in the semifinals in Washington, defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse with a score of 6-2, 6-4. Naomi Osaka, in her first tournament since announcing the end of her collaboration with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, eliminated Ariana Arseneault with a result of 6-4, 6-2.I told my family that if I won, I would come out of retirement. I felt that the old Genie was on the court.
Genie Bouchard
