“I got beaten by Petra, and it was probably for the best”: Eugenie Bouchard reflects on 2014 Wimbledon heartbreak

The former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard provided an in-depth account of the pressures associated with early career success in professional tennis, in a recent interview on Tennis Insider Club – the podcast hosted by former WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia.

The Canadian rose to fame in 2013, becoming WTA Newcomer of the Year after reaching her first WTA final at just 18 years old and jumping from No. 145 to No. 32 by the end of the year. By 2014, her tennis had become a reality: she reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, then advanced to the Wimbledon final, where she lost to Czech Petra Kvitova. “My goal has always been to win at Grand Slam, so ultimately, doing anything was kind of expected,” Bouchard said, reflecting on her early trajectory.

Bouchard had been identified as a generational talent since her junior career. In 2012, she won the Wimbledon junior title; a year later, she reached the third round of Wimbledon, defeating former No. 1 and 12th seed Ana Ivanovic, and by 2014 she contested her first—and only—Grand Slam final while also achieving the highest ranking of her career at No. 5. “At such a young age, just being thrown into that and doing well, I was definitely not processing it. Years later, I’m like, okay, processing—it happened. I’m still processing with my therapist.”

Early achievements brought both recognition and pressure. Following her Wimbledon final in 2014, Bouchard faced heightened expectations from fans and media. “I made the finals of a Grand Slam, and everyone assumed I’d win one next year,” she mentioned. “Only the greatest of all time—like Serena or Djokovic—do that consistently. It’s hard, and people take it for granted. Every player goes through this.”

“You have an amazing result, and suddenly you’re constantly compared to it. People say, don’t read things online, but with my job, I had to go to press conferences. Reporters would ask about losing six matches in a row or criticize a non-tennis photo shoot,” added Bouchard. “You can try to delete things, but you’re still aware. Even if you don’t want to know, it reaches you somehow.”

Bouchard described the immediate scrutiny following her rise in 2014, including commentary on social media and press interactions. “When I made the Wimbledon finals, I was taking selfies, and everyone loved it. Then I lost in the first round another time, took selfies, and everyone hated it. Same behavior, judged differently. When you win, you can do whatever you want. When you lose, every move is scrutinized. It’s human nature.”

The Wimbledon final itself was a pivotal moment in her career. Bouchard lost in straight sets to Petra Kvitova, who was 24th in the WTA rankings at the time, but already knew how to lift the trophy at SW19, having won in 2011. “It was brutal. I still haven’t rewatched the finals; it’s too painful,” Bouchard admitted to her former colleague Caroline Garcia with a laugh. “I got killed, which maybe was a blessing in disguise. Coming so close and losing, replaying break points and match points in your head…”

“I got beaten by Petra, and it was probably for the best. In the moment, everything felt normal. I was putting my head down, working hard, playing well, and enjoying the ride. I believed in myself and had been working toward this every day for years. It was a relief for all the hard work, really trusting myself, and showing myself I could do it. Looking back, wow, I did something crazy, but at the time, I was just in my little bubble.”

Beyond match results, Bouchard highlighted the challenges of ranking volatility. After reaching No. 5 in 2014, she dropped to No. 20 by the end of 2015, reflecting both inconsistent performance and external pressures. Coaching changes and the demands of sponsorship obligations contributed to this fluctuation. “I wish I had kept Nick Saviano as my coach for stability. Trying new coaches added instability, which didn’t help short-term success.”

The Canadian noted that public discussion of mental health in tennis was limited at the time. Admitting to working with a therapist could be viewed as a weakness, potentially affecting opponents’ perception. “Even admitting you had a therapist was like… people thought you were crazy or weak,” she said, highlighting the stigma that existed within professional tennis circles.

Bouchard also discussed the physical effects of stress on preparation, particularly relating to nutrition and pre-match anxiety. She described how her body reacts under high pressure. “I’ve always been okay with food, but stress before matches made it hard to eat. Some people eat when stressed; I shut down. My stomach would knot, and I couldn’t keep anything down,” added the WTA Nurmeberg Cup 2014 champion.

“I had to force myself to eat, even pasta before matches, guided by my agent. Seeing Serena nervous helped—it normalized it. Stress makes my body shut down, which is instinctive. Fight or flight. The brain prioritizes survival.”

Her advice for young athletes emphasizes focusing on trusted guidance and ignoring external noise. “I would tell my 15-year-old self: don’t listen to outside noise. Only your core team matters. People who know 2% of you shouldn’t influence decisions affecting 100% of your life.”

Finally, Bouchard described the ongoing importance of therapy and self-awareness in maintaining emotional stability. Regular work with a therapist has helped her manage reactions and maintain perspective amid the constant pressures of professional tennis. “At such a young age, just being thrown into that and doing well, I was definitely not processing it. Years later, I’m like, okay, processing—it happened. I’m still processing with my therapist.”