Eugenie Bouchard hasn’t performed a WTA tennis match but this yr, however the Canadian has discovered one other approach to get her aggressive repair.
The 2014 Wimbledon finalist began enjoying skilled pickleball this yr — and picked up the most important win of her early profession within the sport on Thursday.
Seeded 18th, Bouchard defeated No. 6 seed Lauren Stratman 11-5, 7-11, 11-0 within the spherical of 16 on the Carvana Skilled Pickleball Tour’s Fanatics Sportsbook NC Cup in North Carolina.
Bouchard notched her first win in pickleball at her fourth match earlier this week in combined doubles.
Though Bouchard hasn’t retired from tennis, her rating has tumbled in recent times as she battled quite a few accidents.
Nevertheless, she did assist Canada win the Billie Jean King Cup final November.
Pickleball has skilled a surge of recognition in recent times in North America, with courts popping up in lots of places.
Bouchard advised ESPN earlier this yr the pickleball tour made her “an amazing supply that I actually couldn’t refuse”
“I’ve zero expectations at this level,” Bouchard advised ESPN in January. “I wish to get my bearings. I wish to simply not embarrass myself, perhaps that’s a great purpose, and simply get the dangle of issues, on courtroom and off. I wish to have enjoyable, strive my finest and actually simply not be too laborious on myself.”