In a poignant moment that encapsulated a storied career, Eugenie Bouchard, the former world No. 5 and Canadian tennis icon, played her final professional match at the National Bank Open in Montreal on July 30, 2025. The 31-year-old, born and raised in the city, chose her hometown tournament to bring the curtain down on a 16-year journey that saw her reach the Wimbledon final in 2014 and inspire a generation of Canadian players. Despite a spirited performance and an outpouring of love from fans, Bouchard remained steadfast in her decision to retire, even as her sister spearheaded a playful petition urging her to reconsider.
Bouchard’s farewell was anything but subdued. Granted a wildcard entry, she delivered a throwback performance that belied her sparse recent play—only her second tournament in 2025. In the first round, she notched her first WTA victory since 2023, defeating Emiliana Arango 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, with the IGA Stadium crowd chanting “Let’s Go Genie!” In the second round, she pushed No. 17 seed Belinda Bencic to the brink in a gripping 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 defeat that lasted over two hours. Bouchard rallied from a set down, securing an early break in the third set, only for Bencic to claw back and seal the match as Bouchard’s backhand sailed wide on the second match point. “I knew I could win the match,” Bouchard reflected. “It was really close from the second onward.”
The emotional weight of the moment was palpable. During an on-court ceremony, Bouchard fought back tears as she addressed the packed stands. “It’s so special to play my last match here in Montreal, on this court, in front of you guys,” she said, her voice cracking. “I remember being a little kid, sitting in these stands, hoping and dreaming that I would play on this court one day. It feels like such a full-circle moment.” She thanked her family, coaches, and fans, adding, “Tennis has given me so much. I am filled with so much gratitude for this sport and the people who helped me along the way.” The crowd responded with a banner reading “Merci Genie,” and Bouchard was presented with a commemorative photo frame celebrating her career milestones.
Her performance sparked hope among fans that she might reconsider retirement, a sentiment her sister amplified by starting a petition in the stands. “Everyone keeps asking me that,” Bouchard said with a smile during her post-match press conference. “My sister said she started a petition with fans in the crowd, and everyone signed it, so now I have no choice but to rescind my retirement. But there’s a lot of hard work that goes into tennis. It was great to be able to perform well, but it’s such a tough life of sacrifice and hard work. I’ve given so much to tennis, and it’s given me so much, but I do feel ready to move on from that and do other things in life.” She expressed gratitude for her journey, emphasizing her readiness for new chapters, including her ongoing venture in professional pickleball, where she ranks 12th in singles on the PPA Tour.
Bouchard’s 2014 season remains a high watermark, with a WTA title in Nuremberg, semifinal runs at the Australian and French Opens, and a historic Wimbledon final appearance—the first by a Canadian in a Grand Slam singles event. Yet injuries, including a 2015 US Open concussion and a 2021 shoulder surgery, derailed her consistency. In recent years, she shifted focus to pickleball and media opportunities, citing the grueling demands of tennis as a factor in her retirement. Looking ahead, she mused about exploring education, having missed college, and diving deeper into television work. “I don’t even have a resume,” she laughed. “Maybe my agent can come up with one for me.”
As Bouchard steps away, her legacy endures. “She has been one of the most important figures in the history of our sport in Canada,” said tournament director Valerie Tetreault, praising her as a trailblazer. From inspiring players like Leylah Fernandez to boosting tennis’ popularity in Canada, Bouchard’s impact transcends her on-court achievements. Her Montreal farewell, filled with heart and resilience, ensured she left the sport on her terms, ready to embrace whatever lies beyond the baseline.
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