“This is an exploratory year to see how I love either one,” Bouchard embraces pickleball, tennis future in limbo
WTA
Eugenie
Bouchard spoke about her future in tennis after missing Wimbledon. In 2023, the
Canadian returned to the All England Club for the first time since 2019 but
couldn't get past the first round of the qualifiers. This year, she didn't even
enter the qualifiers and is currently ranked world No. 524.
The
30-year-old tennis player only played one professional event this year, an ITF
tournament in the USA in May, where she reached the quarterfinals after winning
two consecutive matches. However, she withdrew while facing Kayla Day and
hasn't appeared in any professional tournaments since.
From tennis courts to pickleball
The
former Wimbledon runner-up suffered a shoulder injury in 2021 that kept her
away from the sport for 17 months. Since then, she has shown increased interest
in the rapid growth of pickleball and joined the Professional Pickleball
Association Tour in September 2023.
In
a YouTube interview with Valeria Lipovetsky, she responded about her tennis
aspirations: "That’s a very good question. I would say that changed this
year because I have to invest some of my time playing the pickleball events as
well,” Bouchard said. “So training in the gym for both, I would say, is similar
but obviously on the court it’s different.
"So
if I’m starting to give some time to pickle, it’s taking time away from tennis.
I would say this is an exploratory year to see how I love either one, how I
love both, how I’m able to manage doing both.”
“I
don’t know. I think it’s more of an experimental year and we’ll see how it
goes,” she added. “This is brand-new for me so I don’t know for sure yet is my
answer. I totally shifted this year and it’s only been three months, four
months. I have no idea yet, I’m testing it out, we’ll see.”
“[The
injury] made me do more off-court stuff,” Bouchard said. “I went to do some
commentating for the Tennis Channel, found out I really loved that and was told
I was good at it so that’s something I would love to continue exploring. That’s
something I can do after tennis.”
Read also
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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