{"id":31503,"date":"2025-07-29T09:25:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T09:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/31503\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T09:25:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T09:25:08","slug":"eugenie-bouchard-extends-career-wins-thrilling-first-round-match-at-canadian-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/31503\/","title":{"rendered":"Eugenie Bouchard extends career, wins thrilling first-round match at Canadian Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Eugenie Bouchard<\/a> stepped into IGA Stadium, waving to the boisterous Montreal crowd, she knew that she could be playing her final professional tennis match. Instead, her retirement from the sport will be put on hold.<\/p>\n

The Canadian dazzled in front of the home fans Monday night, winning in three thrilling sets 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 against world No. 82 Emiliana Arango in two hours and 14 minutes to advance to the second round of the Canadian Open. At least for one match, Bouchard, 31, showed the natural athleticism and tenacious grit that made her a Wimbledon finalist in 2014.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know what to expect,\u201d Bouchard said after the match. \u201cI woke up this morning just telling myself, \u2018Look, I can\u2019t control the result. I just want to have a good attitude, have good fight, and try feel good with my shots, feel good with my game.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd at @OBNmontreal<\/a> was loving Eugenie Bouchard\u2019s win. \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 pic.twitter.com\/KiEljfUQCI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

It was the ideal start for Bouchard. She was hitting deep groundstroke winners and extending rallies with her court coverage. But down 3-2 after an early break, there was fear this finale could be over quickly. Bouchard had other ideas. She started moving to the net more, unleashing her trademark drive volleys. Her first serve was efficient, winning 81.3 percent of the points behind it, and Colombia\u2019s Arango started piling up errors, sailing a forehand long to give Bouchard the immediate break back and level the set at 3-3.<\/p>\n

On set point up 5-4, Bouchard connected on a forehand crosscourt winner, taking the opening set in 42 minutes.<\/p>\n

The second set saw Bouchard\u2019s unforced error count tick up as she struggled at the net, winning only one of 10 points there and paving the way for Arango to take the second set.<\/p>\n

The third set saw lengthy games and grueling rallies. But it was Bouchard who got the first break to go up 3-1, bringing fans to their feet to high-five one another. The sound became deafening as Bouchard got closer to the finish line. Even holding serve to consolidate the break and go up 4-1 with a forehand crosscourt shot that Arango couldn\u2019t handle led to roars.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t played in front of a crowd like that in a while or a big match like that in a while,\u201d Bouchard said. \u201cI really tried to be disciplined with my focus.\u201d<\/p>\n

On her home turf! \u2764\ufe0f@geniebouchard<\/a> takes the first set 6-4 over Arango. #OBN25<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/mTRXlOjTtJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 wta (@WTA) July 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

She wasn\u2019t ending her career on this night, taking a commanding double-break lead at 5-1. Arango broke to stay in the match at 5-2, but it wasn\u2019t enough. Bouchard kept bothering the Colombian with her deep groundstrokes, winning 75 percent of Arango\u2019s second-serve return points.<\/p>\n

The Canadian ultimately broke serve for a third time to stay alive in her final tournament, and when Arango\u2019s backhand sailed wide, Bouchard put her hands on her head and smiled to her box, which included family members, coach Sylvain Bruneau and Tennis Canada Billie Jean King Cup captain Heidi El Tabakh. There were tears in Bouchard\u2019s eyes as she waved to the raucous crowd, thanking her fans for their support in lifting her to this monumental victory. It was Bouchard\u2019s first match win on the WTA Tour since the Guadalajara Open in 2023. Before Monday, Bouchard\u2019s last victory in Canada was in 2016.<\/p>\n

For over two hours, Bouchard said she felt like the old \u201cGenie\u201d of a decade ago, when she was at the peak of her game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think coming back to Montreal, I had these visions of like when I\u2019ve played here in the past and just good feelings on that court with that crowd,\u201d Bouchard said. \u201cIt just really brought me back to some very nice memories I\u2019ve had here over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bouchard, whose career-high ranking was No. 5, announced July 16 that she would retire from professional tennis<\/a> after the Canadian Open. A native of Montreal, Bouchard wrote: \u201cYou\u2019ll know when it\u2019s time. For me, it\u2019s now. Ending where it all started: Montreal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bouchard\u2019s banner year on the WTA Tour was 2014, when she made two slam semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros and the Wimbledon final. She became the first Canadian (man or woman) to reach a major singles final in the process. Bouchard has one singles and one doubles title on the WTA Tour and helped Canada win its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup in 2023.<\/p>\n

Her professional career is still a go after Monday\u2019s epic victory over Arango. Up next for the Canadian is world No. 20 Belinda Bencic. They have met three times previously, with Bencic winning all three. Bouchard admitted she\u2019s thought only a little bit about the next match, wanting to enjoy this moment of fighting for a victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to walk off the court having enjoyed that kind of gritty battle, and it definitely turned into one of those battles,\u201d Bouchard said. \u201cI enjoyed every second of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regardless of what happens next, Bouchard will always have this night in her home of Montreal to remember forever.<\/p>\n

(Photo: Minas Panagiotakis \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n