Eugenie Bouchard Serves Up a Dual Career: Eugenie Bouchard, a tennis star with an impressive career, is now making a name for herself in the world of pickleball. Her father, Michel Bouchard, recently teased her for her newfound interest, but the Canadian athlete has embraced the sport with enthusiasm.
Bouchard officially joined the PPA Tour in January 2024 but hasn’t left the tennis world behind. Instead, she’s opted for a dual career, balancing time between pickleball and tennis. The decision to split her time marks a new chapter for the 30-year-old, who first made waves in tennis by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and French Open, and the Wimbledon final in 2014.
A Rocky Start in Pickleball
Bouchard’s entry into pickleball wasn’t as smooth as her early tennis success. After four months of tough competition on the PPA Tour, she secured her first win in April 2024. While her journey has been filled with ups and downs, she’s making steady progress. Currently, Bouchard holds 1,025 points and is ranked 27th in singles. In women’s doubles, she stands at 57th with 775 points. Her pickleball journey is still progressing, but she has shown the same resilience that propelled her to tennis stardom.
Family Humor Amid Busy Schedules
Bouchard’s father, Michel, couldn’t resist poking fun at her shift to pickleball. In a light-hearted moment, he shared a meme about her pickleball career, which Bouchard later posted on Instagram. “Not my dad sending me this,” she quipped, demonstrating that while she takes her new role seriously, she’s not above laughing at herself.
Despite juggling tennis, pickleball, and media engagements, Bouchard doesn’t feel overworked. Instead, she remarked, “I thought I would have more free time, and I feel actually busier than ever.” Broadcasting for Tennis Channel and attending events have filled her schedule, but she has no plans to step away from tennis.
“I thought I would have more free time, and I feel actually busier than ever. Now I’m able to spend a week doing Tennis Channel broadcasting, I’m able to attend events, or do things that I normally wouldn’t be able to do. Since I’ve had more of a (pickleball) specific schedule planned out, I’ve just added more things into it.” – (Bouchard)
Balancing Tennis and Pickleball
Bouchard’s passion for tennis remains strong, and she’s not ready to leave it behind. “It’s something I just don’t want to let go of, and I absolutely love playing tennis. It’s my first true love,” she said. Her goal is to continue playing both sports, even if it means managing an increasingly busy schedule. Fans of tennis and pickleball will likely see a lot more of Bouchard in the coming months, as she’s determined to excel in both arenas.
“[Tennis] is something I wanted to keep up this year. It’s something I just don’t want to let go of, and I absolutely love playing tennis. It’s my first true love. We’ll be seeing lots of tennis, lots of pickle … I’m just making myself busier than ever trying to do all of it!” – (Bouchard)
News in Brief: Eugenie Bouchard Serves Up a Dual Career
Eugenie Bouchard has embraced a dual career in tennis and pickleball, joining the PPA Tour in January 2024 while maintaining her presence on the WTA Tour. Despite early struggles, Bouchard secured her first pickleball win in April 2024. Her father, Michel Bouchard, humorously teased her about the career change.
Bouchard recently shared that her new schedule has left her busier than ever, balancing broadcasting, events, and competition in both sports. With 1,025 points, she’s currently ranked 27th in singles on the pickleball tour.
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