Fans Outraged as Tennis Star Eugenie Bouchard Announces New Career Move
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Tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has recently shocked her fans by announcing a new career move. The news has sparked outrage among her loyal followers.
Bouchard, who gained fame for dating a fan a few years ago, has had a successful tennis career thus far. She reached the final of the prestigious Wimbledon tournament in 2014, and also made it to the semi-finals in the Australian and French Open in the same year. However, her performance has declined in recent years, with no appearances in the main draw of a Grand Slam since 2020. She has only reached the fourth round of a major tournament twice since 2015, so her decision to change careers isn’t entirely surprising.
In a surprising turn of events, Bouchard has decided to leave tennis for the time being and pursue a career in pickleball. For those who are unfamiliar with the sport, pickleball has emerged as a formidable rival to tennis in recent years and is currently the fastest-growing sport in the US.
Pickleball has successfully lured Bouchard away from tennis, with pickleball officials hailing her signing as one of the biggest achievements of the year. The Carvana PPA Tour, the professional tour of pickleball, made the announcement of Bouchard’s move on Instagram. They captioned a photo of Bouchard in her new gear, stating, "With one of the biggest signings of the year ✍️ Genie Bouchard, professional tennis star with a WTA #5 career high in singles, joins the PPA Tour in 2024!"
The Carvana PPA Tour features players competing for titles and rankings points in 25 locations across the US, culminating in the PPA Finals in California. Bouchard is set to join the tour for the 2024 season in her quest to claim the top spot.
Fans have expressed their disappointment in the comment section of the Instagram announcement. Some consider Bouchard’s career move to be a "sad moment." Others have pointed out that her current world ranking is 215th and she won’t be participating in high-level competitions. Despite Bouchard’s indication that she will continue playing tennis alongside pickleball, fans are upset that she has chosen to join the PPA Tour.
"Ugh, not another tennis person 😒. Surely, the PPA has recruits other than tennis pros to replace those who left for MLP," one individual expressed on Instagram. Another added, "I just can’t get on board with the Pickleball train. I find it like watching giants on a mini tennis court. Not a fan."
Despite the mixed reactions from fans, Bouchard remains committed to her new career path. Best of luck to Genie as she navigates this exciting chapter in her life.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/geniebouchard Robert Prange/Getty Images
Topics: Sport
