Eugenie Bouchard | “She put Canada on the card”

It is the concussion in the narrow paths between the training grounds at the IGA stadium on Sunday noon. Meanwhile, Dozens of spectators rush towards the exit of one of the land. Meanwhile, Pays of arms get up, phone in the hands, to take photos. Similarly, The source of this madness: Coco Gauff, no 2 in the world, has just concluded its exercise time.

Posted at 5.50 p.m.

The scenario is repeated an hour later. Similarly, Spectators try to predict where the player will be coming out. Furthermore, Some follow where the security guards are posting to win their bet.

Except that this time. Consequently, the one that generates this attention does not even have a world ranking, she has only played seven games on the WTA circuit since the start of 2023. For example, The ends will have understood that it is Eugenie Bouchard.

Bouchard’s detractors are still numerous. Similarly, particularly if we trust the toxicity of emails that readers send following the articles about it. Therefore, Except that these detractors were not found among the dozens of curious people agglutinated around the land for a. However, simple training-perhaps her last as a professional player. Furthermore, Omnium National Bank will be the last tournament in her career. However, and she will play her match of 1^is Tour Monday evening, on the central.

“We love you Eugenie!” », Sets one of the many amateurs in line for an autograph eugenie bouchard | “she put or a photo with the Quebecer.

“It would be the fun that you change your idea!” », Sets another, who wants her to imitate Lindsay Davenport or Caroline Wozniacki, returned to the game after a break.

Bouchard never stops. Consequently, She signs everything that we tend to her, poses in front of each phone, in a variegated crowd. Children, parents, big teens ready for anything for a self -portrait. Then, a slightly older man, whose eugenie bouchard | “she put green t-shirt now carries Bouchard’s autograph.

“I do not wash it, it remains in the wardrobe, I no longer touch that,” says Luc Lacasse.

Our man is accompanied by his daughters Vicky. Danielle, “twins like Eugenie and Béatrice, but they were born a month later,” he said.

Lacasse was from his time. It is via The social networks he follows his favorite player. “At the beginning, she had detractors who were going a bit far. I gave my opinion, he insists. Here too, she has detractors. Me, I tell them: it is not the place to let off steam for your personal failures. It is a place to thank her for her career, for everything she has done. »»

Eugenie bouchard | &quot. she put – Eugenie bouchard | "she put

“An iconic player”

Her record is well known, because he has been frozen for a bit: a year 2014 of thunder, during which she won her only title at the WTA (Nuremberg), reached her only Grand Chelem final (Wimbledon) in addition to two semi-finals (Australia and Roland-Garros). These exploits allowed him to reach 5^e World rank, which was a record for a Canadian. Only Bianca Andreescu (4^e in 2019) doubled it since.

The charts have been much thinner since since, notably the result of injuries and an imbroglio to the United States. She was satisfied with four finals in modest major tournaments, no title. However, she helped Canada win the first Billie Jean King Cup in its history in 2023.

In music, we would talk about a one-hit wonder. And unless I am mistaken, Tommy Tutone hardly made the crowds run, 11 eugenie bouchard | “she put years after 867-5309/Jenny.

But Bouchard, yes.

“She is an iconic circuit player,” says the American Jessica Pegula.

“I feel that she really put Canadian tennis on the map,” she added in a press briefing on Sunday. She was successful in the junior, she reached the final in Wimbledon. Tennis has become really big here and I think it is one of the factors. »»

Comments about the Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski, an hour later on the same podium. “She put Canada on the map eugenie bouchard | “she put internationally. She inspired the young generation and shown what it is possible to accomplish by reaching the final in Wimbledon. »»

Strong personality

But there is more. She is one of those rare polarizing athletes. as Jacques Villeneuve, PK Subban and Jean Pascal could have been in other sports. Reactions generated by an uninhibited personality, and a notorious presence on social networks.

“She has a eugenie bouchard | “she put funny personality,” adds Pegula. She was very active on social networks when she played. She competed hard and she said what she thought. I think people are attracted to personalities like this. »»

Dabrowski, however, delivered the strongest advocacy.

“It was not easy because she received very young attention. It is not easy when it relates to something other than sport. But also, thanks to that, she has a lot of opportunities out of tennis. It is a double -edged knife.

“I have always admired his ardor at work. that, people don’t talk about it enough,” adds Dabrowski, Bouchard teammate at the Billie Jean King Cup. Because she did things out of tennis. they presume that she did not take her tennis seriously, but that was never the impression that I had of her having eugenie bouchard | “she put been her teammate and in the same tournaments. She has known a whole career and I wish her happiness. »»