Eugenie “Genie” Bouchard stepped onto the court in Montreal this summer knowing it would be her final bow — her last professional tennis tournament. But what unfolded wasn’t just a farewell match; it was an emotional, electric reminder of everything she once was, every dream she chased, and the gritty glimpse of who she still is.
🏟️ The Hometown Showdown
At the National Bank Open, Bouchard returned to her roots — to the courts she grew up watching and the fans who had watched her rise. A wildcard entry into her hometown tournament, it was clear this would be more than just another match. She announced earlier that this event would mark the end of her pro-tennis journey. “[Ending] where it all started: Montreal,” she wrote. “You’ll know when it’s time. For me, it’s now.”
🎯 A Comeback Win That Felt Like Destiny
Against Emiliana Arango, Bouchard dug deep. It was her first singles win since 2023 and — fittingly — one of her most memorable. She took the first set 6-4, dropped the second, then roared back to claim the third 6-2. Her mother in the stands cried. Every rally, every swing had weight. After it, she didn’t just celebrate the win — she celebrated all of it: her journey, her losses, the moments people forget.
💔 The Final Battle, the Tears, the Full Circle
Her next match was against a tougher adversary: Belinda Bencic. It was heartbreaking — a fierce three-set loss (6-2, 3-6, 6-4) that felt like the last page of a long, book-filled chapter. But loss didn’t steal the night. Instead, what came after did. The crowd rose. The lights felt brighter. Her family watched. Bouchard addressed fans with a voice thick with nostalgia and pride. She described how she grew up in those stands, how she once dreamed “playing on these courts.” And now, she was living that dream again — one final time.
🌟 More Than a Match — A Legacy
Genie didn’t just walk away satisfied. She left with clarity.
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She reminded Canada what possibility looks like. In 2014 she became the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam final; tonight she bowed out where spectators once cheered her childhood.
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She showed resilience — winning a match after long absence, battling injuries, being given little expectation, and still stepping up.She made this farewell personal — thanking fans, family, coaches. Her speech wasn’t polished, it was heartfelt. She ended not with regret, but with gratitude.
