As the curtains closed on her remarkable tennis career at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, Eugenie Bouchard, the former world No. 5 and 2014 Wimbledon finalist, left the court with a smile and a quip that captured her irrepressible spirit. In her final press conference after a hard-fought second-round loss to Belinda Bencic, the 31-year-old Canadian turned to the assembled media with a playful challenge: “Are any of you guys hiring?” The lighthearted remark, delivered with her signature charm, underscored her readiness to embrace a new chapter, potentially in tennis broadcasting, as she bids farewell to professional tennis in her hometown of Montreal.
Bouchard’s journey in tennis has been a rollercoaster of triumphs and trials. Born and raised in Montreal, she began playing at age five, quickly rising through the ranks to become a junior Wimbledon champion in 2012. Her breakout year came in 2014, when she reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and French Open, and made history as the first Canadian woman to contest a Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon, where she fell to Petra Kvitova. “I think my fans have really respected and appreciated the hard work I gave to tennis,” Bouchard reflected after her final match, a sentiment echoed by her 2.3 million Instagram followers and fans like actor Jim Parsons, who called their 2014 Wimbledon meeting a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. That year, she also clinched her sole WTA singles title in Nuremberg and reached a career-high ranking of No. 5, cementing her status as a trailblazer for Canadian tennis.
Yet, injuries and setbacks tested her resilience. A shoulder tear in 2021, requiring arthroscopic surgery, sidelined her for much of the season, and a 2015 concussion from a locker-room fall derailed her momentum. “It just takes so much dedication, sacrifice, and dedicating your entire life to have a chance to make it,” Bouchard said, explaining her decision to retire. “For me, at a certain point, that’s just not worth it anymore.” Her shift to professional pickleball in 2024, where she signed a three-year deal with the Professional Pickleball Association, also influenced her choice to step away from tennis. Despite limited WTA appearances in recent years—playing just 51 singles matches since 2020—Bouchard’s competitive fire burned bright in Montreal. She secured her 300th career win against Emiliana Arango in the first round before pushing Bencic to a thrilling 2-6, 6-3, 4-6 defeat. “I think I just wanted a moment like this because my career kind of deserved a moment like this,” she said, savoring the emotional farewell on home soil.
Bouchard’s transition to retirement is anything but a somber affair. Determined to make her exit a celebration, she told reporters, “I want to soak up every moment of love and tennis and the hard stuff on the court, the amazing stuff off the court. I want to make it like a celebration, not a funeral.” Her infectious positivity resonated with fans and peers alike. Rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko, who was seven during Bouchard’s 2014 Wimbledon run, credited her with putting “Canada on the map in women’s tennis.” Bouchard’s emotional on-court speech, where she tearfully thanked her family—“I wouldn’t be here without you”—moved the Montreal crowd, who cheered her as much for her heart as her achievements.
Looking ahead, Bouchard’s playful job request hints at a future in tennis media, a path she explored as a color commentator for Tennis Channel in 2021. “I quite enjoy being in front of the camera—if I’m looking good, that is,” she once quipped, showcasing her comfort in the spotlight. Her media presence, bolstered by a massive social media following and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit appearances, makes her a natural fit for broadcasting. “I don’t even have one of those,” she joked about a resume, adding, “Maybe my agent can come up with one for me.” Her experience, charisma, and deep love for tennis—she called it “a little kind of sample of what real life is”—position her to thrive in this new role.
As Bouchard prepares for pickleball and an upcoming appearance at the Luxembourg Ladies Tennis Masters, her legacy endures. “Tennis has given me so much,” she said, expressing gratitude for a career that included a Billie Jean King Cup title and a 2016 Olympic appearance. From inspiring a generation to redefining Canadian tennis, Bouchard’s farewell is not an end but a vibrant new beginning.
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