Fans' hopes of former Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard making a full-time return to tennis are over after she announced her career will end on home soil.
Bouchard was tipped to win Grand Slams and be at the top of the WTA Tour for many years by several fans and analysts after she made a flying start to her professional career as a young player.
The 31-year-old was named the 2013 Newcomer of the Year after rising from No. 144 to No. 32 in 12 months. During that season, she reached her first WTA final at the Japan Women's Open, losing in three sets to 2011 US Open champion Samantha Stosur.
Bouchard established herself as one of the best women's players worldwide during the 2014 season. She reached the semifinals of that year's Australian and French Opens, losing to eventual champions Li Na and Maria Sharapova.
Bouchard's most notable career moment then came at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships. Her run to the final included beating the future champions at SW19, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep.
Petra Kvitova, who is also retiring this year at the 2025 US Open, defeated Bouchard 6-3, 6-0 in the final. After not dropping a set in the previous six rounds, the then 20-year-old could not find her best tennis in the showpiece match.
Bouchard's retirement was announced on social media. She will end her career at the 2025 Canadian Open in Montreal, her birthplace. The tournament begins on July 27th.
"You’ll know when it's time. For me, it's now. Ending where it all started: Montreal."
After reaching her sole WTA 1000 final at the 2014 Wuhan Open, losing again to Kvitova, Bouchard's level declined. She never came close to the high expectations many in the tennis world placed on her shoulders.
Last year, Bouchard reflected on struggling during 2015 after becoming known worldwide, and felt it was particularly challenging for her because mental health was not talked about a decade ago like it is now.
There were some flashes of good play after 2014, including making four WTA finals, the last two of which came within six months of each other at the 2020 Istanbul Cup and the 2021 Abierto Zapopan. It seemed Bouchard might finally be building some momentum after those results.
Sadly, Bouchard then missed 17 months with a severe shoulder injury that required surgery. From then on, the former Grand Slam champion did not have any more notable singles results.
However, Bouchard played a role in Canada's 2023 Billie Jean King Cup success. She partnered with Gabriela Dabrowski to win two doubles matches during the group stage, but did not contribute in the semifinal or final.
Aside from appearances at an ITF event in the US, the Citi Open and Canadian Open in 2024, and at the recent 2025 Newport Open, Bouchard has focused on pro pickleball since the start of 2024. She recently created headlines for a heated row with a teammate.
Although Bouchard's career was not as successful as many expected, the Billie Jean King Cup winner's achievements still deserve immense respect. Reaching a Wimbledon final at the age of 20 is an accomplishment no one can ever take away from her.
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