Eugenie Bouchard Reacts to USTA Report: Eugenie Bouchard, a renowned tennis player, has taken the sports world by surprise with her growing affinity for pickleball, a sport rapidly gaining traction across the United States. Recently, Bouchard shared her reaction to a staggering USTA statistic, which revealed that nearly 10% of tennis courts in the U.S. have been converted into pickleball courts due to a 223% rise in the sport’s popularity over the past three years.
The news, shared by a prominent pickleball Instagram page, underscores the sport’s rapid rise and its potential impact on tennis. Bouchard responded with an amused emoji on her Instagram story, signaling her support for pickleball’s growth.
“The U.S. Tennis Association has reported that nearly 10% of tennis courts in the United States have been converted or repurposed into pickleball courts. Lew Sherr, CEO of the USTA, acknowledged that with pickleball’s popularity surging by 223% in the past three years, there aren’t facilities available to accommodate both sports.” – (Eugenie Bouchard)
A Shift in Focus for Bouchard
Bouchard, once celebrated for her historic run to the 2014 Wimbledon final and her semifinal appearances at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, has found herself drawn to pickleball.
Though still active in tennis, her involvement in pickleball reflects the broader trend among tennis professionals like John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, and Maria Sharapova, who have also shown interest in the sport.
Her journey into pickleball began last year, surprising many in the tennis fraternity. Despite her vast tennis experience, Bouchard admitted to struggling with the adjustments pickleball demands, calling it a mental and physical challenge. “So many things that I would do in tennis are not what you want to do in pickleball,” she shared during an interview.
The Economic Factor Driving Change
While Bouchard’s enthusiasm highlights pickleball’s appeal, tennis icons like Novak Djokovic have expressed concerns. Djokovic pointed out that the economic benefits of pickleball and padel are overshadowing tennis at the club level. He noted,
“Now we have the paddle or padel, as you call it in the States, that is growing and emerging, People kind of have fun with it and say, Yeah, but tennis is tennis. Tennis is the king or queen of all the racket sports, that’s true. But on a club level, tennis is endangered. If we don’t do something about it, as I said, globally or collectively, padel, pickleball in States, they’re going to convert all the tennis clubs into padel and pickleball because it’s just more economical.” – (Novak Djokovic)
His comments reflect the tension within the tennis community as pickleball’s popularity continues to soar.
From Challenges to Success
Bouchard’s hard work in adapting to pickleball paid off when she reached the semifinals of her first professional tournament in Las Vegas last October. Although she didn’t win, her excitement was palpable.
“I’m so excited, I can’t tell you how happy I am, I feel like I’m been putting in the hours and I’m so happy to see it paying off on the match court.” – (Eugenie Bouchard)
Looking ahead, she is set to team up with Andy Roddick in the upcoming Pickleball Slam 3 against the legendary Agassi-Graf duo. Her contributions to pickleball’s growing visibility have not gone unnoticed, with fans and players recognizing her role in boosting the sport’s profile.
News in Brief: Eugenie Bouchard Reacts to USTA Report
Eugenie Bouchard, a former Wimbledon finalist, has embraced pickleball, a sport seeing a 223% surge in U.S. popularity. Reacting to a USTA report on Instagram, she highlighted the growing demand for pickleball courts.
Despite initial challenges adapting, Bouchard has made strides, reaching the semifinals of her first professional tournament. While tennis stars like Novak Djokovic express concerns about pickleball’s rise, Bouchard continues promoting the sport, preparing for the Pickleball Slam 3 in 2025.
ALSO READ: Eugenie Bouchard Challenges Andre Agassi Ahead of a Major Pickleball Tournament
