Eugenie Bouchard Set to Return at Pickleball Slam 3: Canadian tennis and pickleball star Eugenie Bouchard is set to return to action at the Pickleball Slam 3 in Las Vegas on February 16, 2025, after recovering from a recent eye injury during practice. The highly anticipated event will feature Bouchard and her partner Andy Roddick competing against defending champions Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.
Bouchard’s preparation was interrupted when an errant ball struck her eye during practice, causing a scratched cornea. Sharing the ordeal on her X account, she wrote,
“Got hit in the eye with a pickleball during training today… Went to urgent care and have a scratched cornea. The things we do for this sport! Will be healed in a matter of days .”(Eugenie Bouchard)
Got hit in the eye with a pickleball during training today. It was a shank off my partner’s paddle straight into the eye 😵💫 Went to urgent care and have a scratched cornea. The things we do for this sport! 🥒 Will be healed in a matter of days 🫶🏼 pic.twitter.com/65FpPJtmb0
— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) December 13, 2024
Recovery and Precautionary Measures
Bouchard shared updates with her fans, expressing gratitude for their support.
“Thank u for all the messages about my eye! it still hurts but has been improving. at least no more pirate genie,”(Eugenie Bouchard joked).
Determined to avoid future injuries, she has begun wearing protective glasses.
“OK let’s try this again!! bought glasses this morning because I am now too scared to play without them,” (Eugenie Bouchard wrote on Instagram).
Excitement for Pickleball Slam 3
Bouchard, who transitioned to pickleball in 2024 by joining the PPA Tour, is enthusiastic about playing mixed doubles.
“I love that it’s mixed doubles. I think fans love mixed doubles in tennis… it’s fun to have the women and men on the court, to have the power from the men and just see how it all combines,” (Eugenie Bouchard).
Speaking about her partner, Roddick, Bouchard added,
“I don’t know Andy’s game at all so I think I’ll probably need to call him and be like okay, what are your strengths, what are your weaknesses? Let’s develop a game plan here.”(Eugenie Bouchard)
Friendly Rivalries Heat Up
The event has sparked excitement and light-hearted banter among participants. Bouchard described the event as “gonna be epic,” while Agassi expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I can’t wait to return with Steffi and defend our title.”
In a playful exchange, Agassi remarked,
“I think the plan is to always go after the weakness so I think we’re going to play her as little as possible. We’re going to check Andy’s oil.” Bouchard responded cheekily on Instagram, writing, “(@agassi sounds scared).”
Anticipation Builds for the Event
With $1 million in prize money at stake, the Pickleball Slam 3 is expected to attract significant attention. Fans eagerly await the showdown between some of the biggest names in sports as Bouchard continues to blend her tennis expertise with her new passion for pickleball.
News in Brief: Eugenie Bouchard Set to Return at Pickleball Slam 3
Canadian tennis and pickleball star Eugenie Bouchard will return to competition at Pickleball Slam 3 in Las Vegas on February 16, 2025, after recovering from a scratched cornea caused by an errant ball during practice. Partnering with Andy Roddick, Bouchard faces defending champions Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in a highly anticipated mixed doubles event. Bouchard expressed her excitement for the tournament, which boasts a $1 million prize pool.
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