"Drake just thought I wasn't that beneficial for the team" - Throwback to when Genie Bouchard was benched by rapper Drake at an NBA celebrity game
WTA
Eugenie Bouchard was once a part of the celebrity line-up during an NBA All-Stars weekend. The event, which took place in Toronto in 2016, was contested between Team Canada and Team USA. Rapper Drake was selected as the coach for the Canadian side, which included tennis players Eugenie Bouchard and Milos Raonic.
In an interview with FAIR GAME in 2019, the Canadian tennis star revealed the unique experience of being coached by an iconic artist like Drake. She revealed that he was full of positive spirit as a coach and asked the players to enjoy the game. The 2014 Wimbledon finalist, however, felt that the artist could have given more tips and tricks about winning the game.
Read also
"He was super positive. He was like, ‘Everyone, let’s go and have fun’ and I was kind of like, ‘Give us more tactics, we really want to win’ because it was like Team Canada versus Team USA,” recalled Bouchard.
The former World No.5 also disclosed that although the rapper suggested that the players have fun, he was not pleased with Bouchard’s performance in the male-dominated squad and decided to bench her.
“And he was like, ‘yeah go and have fun’ and I went to go play a shift and I came back and he was like, ‘Genie, I am benching you’ Ya," stated the former Wimbledon finalist. "I was really not good and it was mostly men playing as well and you know, the egos were coming out and men were trying to show off and no one was passing me the ball and Drake just thought I wasn’t that beneficial for the team.”
Read also
Bouchard, however, joked that she wasn’t too upset about being sidelined from the winning team as the rapper’s fragrant cologne made up for it.
“I still love him, you know, he smells amazing so he made up for it. I don’t know what cologne he uses, but when you go in for a hug, you’re just like, in heaven,” she added.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.
mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!
mandoist09-11-2026 - "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?
mandoist09-11-2026 - Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.
mandoist08-11-2026 - Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??
mandoist08-11-2026 - Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026








