- Eugenie Bouchard pickleball debut ended in a big loss
- The Canadian lost in three matches in her first shot as a professional pickleball player
- Bouchard faced consecutive-set defeats against Ekaterina Biakina
Eugenie Bouchard pickleball debut ended in a big loss crowning her entry to the PPA Tour after retiring from tennis earlier on.
The Canadian lost in three matches in her first shot as a professional pickleball player. These matches were featured in the Hyundai Masters, a professional pickleball tournament on the PPA Tour.
Bouchard faced consecutive-set defeats against Ekaterina Biakina, succumbing 11-1 in the first set and 11-7 in the second in her singles match.
Eugenie Bouchard Pickleball Debut
She said that she still is a greenhorn in the sport adding that despite putting in considerable effort and practice, she struggled to perform well.
“This was so different and new. It was the fear of the unknown. I had months of practice but I didn’t know what to expect. It was nerve-wracking,” she told PPATour.com.
Eugenie Bouchard Pickleball debut. Photo/Yardbarker
Despite the loss, she feels great that she racked up a few points and also had a moment to learn new things as well.
“The positive thing is, I got some points and didn’t completely embarrass myself. I’m proud that I was able to stay calm and get some points in that second game,” she stated.
What is Eugenie Bouchard Planning For Her Pickleball Career?
Despite the disappointing performance in her first professional pickleball match, Bouchard is optimistic that she will win in the future as she continues to learn the game even more.
She said that she is not abandoning pickleball any time soon. She remains optimistic about her prospects in the sport and plans to enhance her skills by participating in numerous events throughout the year.
Her plan is to train more and play in more tournaments to sharpen her sporting skills. She is hopeful that if she gives it her all, she will become the next phase of victory for the sport.
Bouchard is not the sole tennis player grappling with the transition to pickleball. Sam Querrey, a former world No. 11 on the ATP Tour, similarly faced defeat in the play-in round at the Hyundai Masters.
Did Eugenie Bouchard Play Tennis?
Eugenie Bouchard. Photo/Sky Sports
The Canadian fell in love with tennis when she was only five years old. Growing up in Montreal, she honed her skills at the National Training Centre before taking a bold leap at 12.
She then relocated to Florida in the US and started her tennis training to become a professional player under coach Nick Saviano.
Her early exposure to the sport and training built a star out of her and she represented Canada in numerous tennis matches for close to a decade.
Bouchard has faced a challenging period in her tennis career due to a series of injuries, prompting her to venture into pickleball.
The former 2014 Wimbledon finalist experienced a significant decline in her career ranking as a consequence of these setbacks.
She opted for pickleball and announced late 2023 that she would be channeling her sporting energy to this new sport.
The official IBE Pickleball website announced that Bouchard was their most significant signing.
“With one of the biggest signings of the year @Genie Bouchard, professional tennis star with a WTA No 5 career high in singles, joins the PPA Tour in 2024!” the statement read.
Bouchard was anticipated to emerge as one of the brightest stars in women’s tennis after her impressive run to the finals at the 2014 Wimbledon.
Bouchard reached the semi-finals at both the Australian Open and the French Open in 2014 before making it to the fourth round at the US Open in 2015.
Her remarkable achievements generated considerable interest in the Canadian sensation, causing her marketability to skyrocket. During the early years of her career, she secured numerous major sponsorships.
However, her recent struggles with fitness have posed a significant threat to her tennis career. As the junior Wimbledon champion in 2012, Bouchard has faced challenges in making a lasting impact on professional tennis, particularly with the decline in her ranking.
She is now hopeful that she will redeem herself with pickleball which is less strenuous on the body and enjoyable too.
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