‘Full-circle moment’ for Eugenie Bouchard as Canadian ends tennis career on home soil

MONTREAL – Canadian Eugenie Bouchard brought the curtain down on her tennis career on July 30, after the former world No. 5 lost 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to Belinda Bencic in the second round of the Canadian Open in Montreal.

The 31-year-old, who announced earlier in July that the tournament in her home town would be her last, was outplayed by 17th seed Bencic in the first set but rallied in the second, breaking with a blistering forehand to take a 5-3 lead before going on to level the match.

Bouchard then seized a 3-1 lead in the decider, but Swiss Bencic clawed her way back and sealed victory when the Canadian’s backhand drifted wide.

“It’s so special to play my last match here in Montreal, on this court and in front of you guys,” Bouchard said at an emotional retirement ceremony.

“I remember being a little kid, sitting in these stands hoping and dreaming that I would play on this court one day, so it feels like a full-circle moment to finish my career here.

“Tennis has given me so much. I am filled with so much gratitude for this sport and all the people who helped me along the way.”

Bouchard’s best year was 2014 when she reached the semi-finals of the French and Australian Opens, and the final of Wimbledon.

She also plays on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour, which she joined ahead of the 2024 season.

In other Montreal matches, two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula, Australian Open winner Madison Keys and Briton Emma Raducanu all advanced to the third round with straight-set wins.

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek also cruised, while Naomi Osaka battled through.

There was no drama for Poland’s Swiatek, who breezed past Chinese qualifier Guo Hanyu 6-3, 6-1 in her first match since her crushing victory over Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final.

Swiatek, seeded second, broke Guo’s serve six times to book her spot in the third round.

It was much harder going for Japan’s four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who saved two match points in a 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 triumph over Liudmila Samsonova.

“She definitely came out really hard and for me, I was definitely overwhelmed and I didn’t know if I should also be hitting winners,” Osaka said. “After a while I just tried to keep the ball in court.”

In the men’s tournament, which is being played in Toronto, fourth seed Ben Shelton beat Adrian Mannarino of France 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the third round.

American Frances Tiafoe battled back to defeat Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).

Stefanos Tsitsipas continued to struggle, the Greek falling to Australian Christopher O’Connell 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Tsitsipas has fallen to 30th in the world. He said last week he had split with coach Goran Ivanisevic – who helped Novak Djokovic claim nine of his 24 Grand Slam titles – after less than two months.

The former world No. 3 has since brought his father Apostolos back as coach.

Following Tsitsipas’ first-round exit at Wimbledon, Ivanisevic delivered a scathing assessment of the Greek, saying he had “never seen a more unprepared player” in his life.

His title win in Dubai on March 1 is the only final he has reached in 2025.

“Some journeys have a way of circling back to where they began,” Tsitsipas posted on social media.

“After some time apart, I’ve reunited with the person who first believed in me – my father.

“I’m grateful to share the court and the road ahead with him once again.

“We’ve been through every chapter of this journey together, and this next one feels right. Sometimes, coming home is the boldest step forward.” REUTERS, AFP