Eugenie Bouchard has made a mark in the world of pickleball with her own signature paddle and currently ranks No. 17 in the sport. She is frequently seen playing in main event matches, drawing quite a crowd. However, it’s important to clarify that the Canadian tennis star is not done with tennis just yet. Bouchard, a finalist at Wimbledon in 2014, still trains on the tennis court, competes in various tennis tournaments, and maintains a Women’s Tennis Association ranking, which stands at No. 1,288 at this time.
Bouchard has embraced pickleball as a new passion, joining other notable tennis players such as Jack Sock and Donald Young in transitioning to this burgeoning sport. Over the past year, she has faced her share of challenges and setbacks as she navigates pickleball, a game that mingles elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. “I’m on center court,” Bouchard stated ahead of the “Pickleball Slam 3,” where she will team up with Andy Roddick to compete against legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in a series of matches scheduled in Las Vegas and broadcasted on ESPN. “Not because of my skill level in pickleball but because of what I achieved in tennis.”
Bouchard candidly shared her early struggles with the game, admitting, “I didn’t like it at first because I was losing and felt uncomfortable and awkward on the pickleball court.” Despite her initial reluctance, she’s gradually adjusted to the sport, noting her journey to proficiency. Approached by the Professional Pickleball Association Tour in 2023 while attending the U.S. Open, Bouchard was encouraged to help boost the sport’s visibility. While she had enjoyed casual games of pickleball with friends, this was a significant step up.
Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour, recognized Bouchard’s potential to enhance the sport’s profile. He expressed his belief that her involvement would attract more attention to pickleball, sharing that when they learned of her enthusiasm for pursuing this new venture, it was an obvious decision for them to engage her. She subsequently signed a three-year agreement, the terms of which were not disclosed, but it does allow her to participate in tennis events simultaneously.
Since joining the PPA Tour, which merged with Major League Pickleball in early 2024, Bouchard has played a key role in elevating its popularity. The combined tours attracted over 320,000 fans last year. Despite not yet securing a victory on tour, Bouchard retains her humor and flair, as demonstrated when she posted on social media after her recent exit from a tournament in Tucson, Arizona. Sporting a vibrant outfit, she cheerfully remarked, “I may not have won the tournament but at least I had the cutest outfit.”
With current records of 18-19 in singles, 8-18 in doubles, and 8-19 in mixed doubles (recently partnering with Sock), Bouchard has realistic goals moving forward. “Success is going to a tournament and leaving with at least a win,” she explained, reminiscing about her early struggles where she often left tournaments without a single win. The letdown of traveling for matches only to return home without triumphs was tough, but she expressed relief at finally enjoying some victories.
Bouchard’s tennis background remains significant, as she first gained attention as a teenager and was ranked No. 5 in 2014. That year included a memorable run to the Wimbledon finals, where she ultimately lost to Petra Kvitova. Throughout her tennis career, she has earned $6.9 million in prize money, marked by memorable highs like reaching the semifinals of both the Australian Open and French Open in 2014 and also representing Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, her career has not been devoid of challenges, including shoulder surgery and a legal settlement with the U.S. Tennis Association.
When discussing her venture into pickleball, Bouchard described it as a new opportunity rather than a sign of burnout. This upcoming Sunday presents a grand opportunity for her, as she teams up with Roddick for a featured pickleball match against tennis icons Agassi and Graf. “I don’t even know how I got invited,” Bouchard expressed, recognizing the surreal nature of sharing the court with such legendary figures in tennis.
