Former professional tennis player Eugenie Bouchard, who retired last year, shared a humorous video about her return to the Indian Wells tournament, which sparked laughter from players including Amanda Anisimova and Eva Lys. Bouchard’s lighthearted take on her experience highlighted the contrast between her current and former roles in tennis, drawing amusement from contemporaries.
Bouchard turned pro in 2009, completing her career in July 2025 at the Canadian Open in her home country. There, she won her opening round against Emiliana Arango before being eliminated in the second round by Belinda Bencic.
Anisimova, Lys, and Former Players Respond to Bouchard’s Social Media Post
Though retired from tennis, Bouchard has remained active in sports, making her professional pickleball debut in January 2024. She is also set to participate in the Pickleball Slam 4 exhibition event in April 2026 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Recently, she shared on social media a video showing her awkwardly greeting former coach Tim Blenkiron and Tennis Channel reporter Steve Weissman after returning to Indian Wells following retirement.
In the caption, Bouchard wrote:
back at a tennis tournament like,
Her post generated amusing responses from Amanda Anisimova and Eva Lys, both reacting with multiple laughing emojis. Former player Sam Querrey, who retired in 2022, also echoed Bouchard’s feelings of awkwardness returning to tournaments post-retirement.
😂 😂 ☠️, Anisimova commented.
😂 😂 😂 😂, Lys wrote.
I felt the same way, Querrey added.
Highlights from Amanda Anisimova’s 2026 Indian Wells Campaign
As for her own performance, Amanda Anisimova, once ranked World No. 3 and seeded sixth at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, began her tournament at Indian Wells with a bye into the second round. She triumphed over Anna Blinkova with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 victory in her first match. Anisimova then decisively defeated 25th seed Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the fourth round.
Her next opponent will be 10th seed Victoria Mboko, marking their first-ever meeting on the WTA Tour. The winner of this match will face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or 16th seed Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals, setting the stage for a crucial phase in the tournament.
Eva Lys’s Withdrawal and Injury Update
Eva Lys, who last competed at the 2026 Australian Open, lost in the first round to Sorana Cîrstea in a closely contested match. Lys was also scheduled to participate in Indian Wells but withdrew due to a persistent right knee injury incurred during the Australian Open. Her spot was taken by lucky loser Dalma Gálfi as a result.
The Broader Context of Tennis Player Transitions and Returns
Bouchard’s transition from professional tennis to pickleball, combined with her humorous perspective on attending tournaments post-retirement, sheds light on the unique challenges athletes face after stepping away from the sport. Meanwhile, players like Anisimova continue to advance through key tournaments such as Indian Wells, highlighting ongoing competition and emerging talents.
As the BNP Paribas Open continues, the dynamics between seasoned players and newcomers will shape the outcomes, with upcoming matches poised to influence rankings and momentum on the WTA Tour.
