Genie Bouchard, the Canadian tennis star who soared to a Wimbledon final and two other Grand Slam semifinals in 2014, is hanging up her racket.
It comes after she made an unexpected return last year after making an “epic” Pickleball debut with $1 million on the line, then later being rushed to urgent care after a freak accident.
Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Bouchard will make her final appearance at the National Bank Open in Montreal later this month before retiring from professional tennis. The organization revealed that Bouchard, 31, will receive a wild card entry to compete in the tournament in her hometown.
Bouchard took to social media to share her decision, stating, “You’ll know when it’s time. For me, it’s now,” and added, “Ending where it all started: Montreal.”
Once ranked No. 5 in the WTA rankings, Bouchard claimed her only singles title in 2014 and made it to the Wimbledon final, where she was defeated by Petra Kvitova.
In 2023, Bouchard played a key role in securing Canada’s first Billie Jean King Cup title, though she has largely transitioned to playing pickleball, competing in just one tour match this season. Her career singles record stands at 299-230.
“She has been one of the most important figures in the history of our sport in Canada and a trailblazer who redefined what Canadian tennis could be,” stated Valerie Tetreault, the National Bank Open tournament director. “We are proud of everything she has done, as a player and role model, and we can’t wait to see her in action one last time at IGA Stadium this summer.”