In downtown Montreal, Eugenie Bouchard offered an emotional farewell to tennis, marking the end of her career with a courageous defeat in her final match. Despite the defeat, Bouchard proved to be in top form, giving the fans a memorable performance in her hometown.
In the second set, Bouchard came back, but Bencic held firm to win the match in two hours and sixteen minutes.I always felt that I would end my career here. Montreal is where I was born and raised, so it feels good. An emotional moment. I think I just wanted a moment like this because my career deserved it.
Eugenie Bouchard
Her career almost continued a little longer. After a difficult first set, Bouchard reacted to win the second and gained an advantage at the beginning of the third, winning a back-and-forth third game when Bencic’s shot fell into the net on the Canadian’s fifth break point opportunity. Bencic regrouped and broke to tie it at 3-3 when Bouchard sent shots wide and long. Trailing 5-4 and needing to hold serve, Bouchard fell into a 40-love hole and sent her backhand wide while defending the second match point, ending her comeback attempt. The tennis player achieved her only WTA singles victory, reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the French Open, and became the first Canadian to play in a Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon. In recent years, Bouchard has played sporadically on the professional tennis circuit, spending more time on the PPA Pickleball Tour, where she is ranked number 12 in singles. Regarding what follows, Bouchard says he hopes to sleep, go on vacation, and reflect on what he wants to do with the rest of his life. I was looking for the word curriculum. I don’t have one of those, she said. Maybe my agent can make one up for me. I’m not used to doing that.It’s very special to play my last match here in Montreal, on this court, in front of you. I remember being a little girl, sitting in these stands, waiting and dreaming of playing on this court someday.
Eugenie Bouchard
