Eugenie Bouchard Delays Retirement with Thrilling NBO Victory
So here's a pretty emotional and uplifting story in the world of tennis — Eugenie Bouchard, Canada’s own tennis star, just pulled off a dramatic win at the National Bank Open in Montreal. And it’s not just any win — it could be the beginning of a final, fairytale chapter in her career.
Bouchard had already announced earlier this month that this tournament, held in her hometown, would be her last before retirement. But in front of an excited crowd at the IGA Stadium, she managed to dig deep and defeat Colombia’s Emiliana Arango in a gritty three-set match: 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. That win not only keeps her tournament run alive but also marks her 300th career singles victory , which is an impressive milestone for any player, especially one who’s been battling injuries and setbacks for years.
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Now 31, Bouchard was once ranked as high as No. 5 in the world. Many remember her breakthrough 2014 season — when, at just 20 years old, she reached the Wimbledon final and made the semis in both the Australian Open and the French Open. That same year, she also won her lone WTA title in Nuremberg. Unfortunately, she was never quite able to replicate that magic consistently in the years that followed. After her Wimbledon final loss to Petra Kvitova, her momentum faded, and she slipped from the top ranks.
Recently, she’s even stepped away from tennis to play on the PPA Pickleball Tour, where she’s ranked 12th in singles. But for this hometown sendoff, she’s back on the tennis court, and the fans clearly haven’t forgotten her. The crowd erupted with chants of “Let’s Go Genie!” and “Allez Eugenie!” as she battled Arango point after point.
The final set saw vintage Bouchard energy. She broke Arango’s serve twice and built a commanding 5-1 lead. Though Arango did manage to break back once, Bouchard held her nerve — and on her second match point, a wide backhand from Arango sealed the deal.
She celebrated the win with waves and kisses to the crowd, clearly soaking in every moment. And in a playful moment during her on-court interview, Bouchard told the crowd, “I told my family that if I won, I would come out of retirement. I felt like the old Genie out there.”
Next up, she’s set to face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, the 17th seed, in the second round. Whether or not this tournament truly marks the end of her career, one thing is clear — Bouchard still has the fight, the flair, and a hometown that’s cheering her all the way.
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