Honestly, if you followed tennis in 2014, you couldn't escape the hype. Eugenie Bouchard tennis player was a name that felt like it was going to be etched on every Grand Slam trophy for the next decade. She had this fearless, take-the-ball-early style that left veterans looking like they were stuck in slow motion. Fast forward to today, and the story is... well, it’s complicated.
She didn't just disappear. But she didn't become Serena, either.
By early 2026, the dust has finally settled on one of the most polarizing careers in modern sports. Last summer, in July 2025, Genie finally called it quits on the pro tennis circuit. She did it where it all started: Montreal. It was emotional, a bit nostalgic, and very "Genie." She even took down Emiliana Arango in the first round of that final National Bank Open appearance, proving she still had that 300-win grit before falling to Belinda Bencic in the second.
The 2014 Peak Nobody Can Take Away
People love to bash her for the "influencer" era, but let’s be real. You don't get to World No. 5 by accident. In 2014, she made the semifinals of the Australian Open and the French Open. Then came that Wimbledon final. She lost to Petra Kvitova, sure, but she was only 20.
At that moment, she was the highest-ranked Canadian woman ever. She was the "It Girl" for Nike and Rolex.
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Then the wheels started to wobble.
The Fall, The Lawsuit, and the Shoulder
What actually derailed the Eugenie Bouchard tennis player momentum? It wasn't just "distractions," though that’s the easy narrative.
- The 2015 U.S. Open Slip: This was a freak accident. She slipped on a wet floor in a dark physiotherapy room, suffered a massive concussion, and had to withdraw. She sued the USTA and eventually settled in 2018. She was never quite the same after that head injury.
- The Subscapularis Tear: In 2021, she tore a muscle in her right shoulder during a match in Guadalajara. Surgery followed. Rehab was a nightmare.
- The Ranking Slide: By the time she tried to come back, the game had moved on. Younger, harder hitters like Sabalenka and Rybakina were dominating. Genie found herself grinded out on the ITF circuit, far from the bright lights of Centre Court.
The Pivot to Pickleball (No, Seriously)
By 2024 and 2025, Bouchard basically admitted she was over the tennis grind. She signed with the PPA Tour. If you haven't seen her play pickleball, it’s actually kind of impressive. She struggled at first—tennis players usually do because they try to hit the ball way too hard—but by early 2026, she’s reached multiple singles finals.
She's using a Proton "Project Flamingo" paddle now. She's actually vocal about how much she loves the gym side of it. While she finished her tennis career with a ranking around 814, her pickleball trajectory is headed the opposite way.
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Why the "Influencer" Label is Sorta Unfair
Critics love to point at her 2.3 million Instagram followers and say she cared more about modeling than the baseline. But look at the numbers. She made over $6.9 million in prize money alone. That doesn't happen if you aren't working.
The endorsements from New Balance and Yonex came because she was a star. If she was a male player with one Grand Slam final and a Top 10 ranking who then struggled with injuries, we’d call it a tragedy. Because she’s a blonde woman who looks good in a bikini on vacation, people called it a choice.
What's Next for Genie?
She’s 31 now. After her final match in Montreal, she jokingly asked the media if anyone had any job openings. She wasn't really kidding. She’s already done stints with Tennis Channel and her transition into broadcasting seems inevitable. She has the "it" factor that TV producers drool over.
Basically, the Eugenie Bouchard tennis player era is over, but the Genie Bouchard brand is just entering its second act.
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How to follow her transition in 2026:
- Watch the PPA Tour: She is actively chasing her first "Gold" in pro pickleball this season.
- Broadcasting: Keep an eye on major networks during the Grand Slams; she's expected to be a staple in the commentary booth.
- Business: She still holds major equity in several lifestyle brands, moving away from being just a "face" to a partner.
The lesson here? You can't stay at the top forever, but you can definitely choose how you land. Genie landed on her feet, even if it wasn't with a Wimbledon trophy in her hand.
Actionable Takeaway
If you're looking to track her new career, follow the PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) rankings rather than the WTA. Her tennis ranking is now "Retired," but her singles pickleball ranking is currently inside the Top 10 as of January 2026.