"Scraping the bottom of the barrel": Tennis fans react as Bouchard receives Guadalajara Open wildcard after pickleball switch
WTA
Tennis fans
reacted to the wild card announcement for Eugene Bouchard at the WTA 1000
Guadalajara Open.
On Monday,
September 17, a new WTA 1000 tournament will kick off in Guadalajara, featuring
several surprises, especially due to the absence of many top-10 players from
the rankings. The draw for the event is somewhat weakened by the absence of
seven of the top-10 female tennis players globally.
The
tournament's main contender is Tunisian world No. 7, Ons Jabeur. Additionally,
the main draw does not include any Grand Slam champions or WTA 1000
titleholders from this year.
However,
what caught everyone's attention this time was the announcement of the wild
card recipients for the tournament. These wild cards were granted to the young
Mexican talent, 16-year-old Lya Fernandez, Ajla Tomljanovic, and the Canadian
player Eugene Bouchard.
The
decision to grant the wild card to Bouchard comes shortly after her
announcement that she will be joining the Professional Pickleball Association
(PPA) next year:
"I
thought she retired to play pickleball? Sounds like this tournament is
desperate," one fan commented.
"Thankfully
most of the top players escaped this sinking ship called Guadalajara
Open," one fan posted.
"With
most of the WTA Top Ten cancelling last minute..... makes sense," another
fan shared.
The
Guadalajara Open draw has faced several notable withdrawals in recent weeks,
including world No. 2 Iga Swiatek and world No. 4 Jessica Pegula.
With the
draw now determined, the 248th-ranked Bouchard knows her opponent and will face
local player Renata Zarazua, who is currently ranked 179th in the world. The
winner of this match will have a challenging encounter against the 7th seed
Veronika Kudermetova, who receives a bye in the first round.
The last
time Bouchard participated in the main draw of a WTA 1000 event was at the
Madrid Open, where she successfully navigated the qualifiers and then defeated
Dayana Yastremska in the first round. However, she ultimately fell to the 18th
seed Martina Trevisan with a score of 6-2, 7-5.
Here are
some reactions from fans regarding Bouchard's presence in the Guadalajara main
draw:
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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