When so much has already been said and written about someone’s career, both the highs and the lows, it’s difficult to find the words to do them justice when the dust finally settles.
When professional athletes retire, terms like ‘legend’, ‘icon’, and ‘trailblazer’ are often loosely thrown around to label them. Eugenie Bouchard is all those things and then some. From the moment she stepped into the spotlight in 2012 by winning the junior Wimbledon girls’ singles title, everything about her tennis journey has been larger than life.
Becoming the first Canadian woman in the Open Era to contest a Grand Slam singles final, reaching no. 5 in the world, being crowned a Billie Jean King Cup champion, and capturing a WTA title are all remarkable achievements. But Bouchard’s lasting legacy goes well beyond trophies and statistics. The 31-year-old is one of the most popular players in tennis history and she embraces the fandom that surrounds her everywhere she goes like few have before. The Genie Army is loud, proud, and one of the most loyal fan bases in sports.
Her impact on the growth of tennis in Canada is impossible to quantify, but the lasting images of young girls playing on courts across the country wearing visors and with their hair in a braid to emulate their idol at the height of her powers, are all the proof that’s needed. She’s a bona fide global star who we’re all on a first name basis with. Genie redefined what success looks like for Canadian tennis and inspired future generations to dream bigger than they thought possible. She helped the sport become mainstream and she flipped social media on its head to build her brand.
Photo: Pascal Ratthé
Known for hugging the baseline and taking the ball notoriously early to keep her opponents on the defensive, there were many memorable moments and matches along the way: the historic 2014 Wimbledon final against Petra Kvitova, two other Grand Slam semi-finals, notable victories over Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, and Caroline Wozniacki, representing Canada at the Olympics, and taking home a pair of WTA Awards.
A Final Montreal Homecoming
Bouchard’s tennis curtain call will come at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, in the city she was raised in, on the courts she grew up playing on, and in the stadium that became her second home. For the occasion, she will play in the main draw one last time, nine years removed from an unforgettable run to the Round of 16, highlighted by wins over Lucie Safarova and Dominka Cibulkova.
Goodbyes are never easy, and we’re never fully prepared for them, but Montreal is no stranger to grand occasions and celebrating one of their own with flair. The Genie Army will be in full voice and the atmosphere on Centre Court at IGA Stadium will be electric, the perfect setting to give a player who propelled women’s tennis in Canada to new heights, the farewell she deserves.
All that’s left to say now is thank you. Thank you, Genie for the thrills, the chills and for taking us along for the ride.
Feature photo by: Pascal Ratthé/Tennis Canada
