Genie Bouchard says tearful goodbye to tennis after final match of her career
Canadian tennis star Genie Bouchard is officially walking off the court for one final time.
On Wednesday night in Montreal, Bouchard fell in the second round of the National Bank Open to Belinda Bencic by a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
After dropping the opening set, Bouchard found her form by taking the opening set and taking a 3-1 lead in the third set.
But she won just one game the remainder of the way, eventually falling Bencic who is ranked No. 20 in the world.
The 31-year-old Bouchard announced her retirement earlier this month via social media.
“You’ll know when it’s time. For me, it’s now,” Bouchard announced. “Ending where it all started: Montreal.”
Genie Bouchard takes in all the emotions on court for the final time 🥹❤️#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/SCAoWT8r0h
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 31, 2025
“I’ll try to not cry,” an emotional Bouchard said in an on-court address to the fans. “It feels like such a full-circle moment to finish my career here… I want to thank my family for their sacrifice and support. I want you to know that when this crowd cheers for me, they’re cheering for you too
“How lucky am I to be able to live out my dreams?”
Nothing but love for Genie Bouchard as she calls it a career 🫶#OBN25 | @OBNmontreal pic.twitter.com/7dvWqO9bAH
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 31, 2025
While she finishes her as one of the most iconic Canadian players of all time, Bouchard never was able to win the elusive major, falling in the Wimbledon final in 2014 to Petra Kvitová.
Her career high ranking came that same year, rising all the way to No. 5 in the WTA rankings. Bouchard’s two other Grand Slam semifinals both came in 2014, as she advanced to the final four in both the Australian and French Opens.
She won one singles title in her WTA career, winning the Nuremberg Cup in 2014, while falling short in seven other finals. She was also a member of Canada’s team that won the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023.
She is the second Canadian star to call it quits in Canada this week. In Toronto, Vasek Pospisil wrapped up his career on Sunday night in the men’s singles draw with a loss to Argentinian Facundo Bagnis.
“It’s pretty cool to see so many young guys and young talent that we have that maybe looked up to me when they were growing up, and now they’re here playing at the high level,” Pospisil said in his final post-match press conference. “It’s an exciting time for tennis in Canada I think for at least the next 10 years. So it be will fun to watch for me and for all fans in Canada.”