The surprising career move of former tennis star Eugenie Bouchard, who has decided to join the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour for the 2024 season.
Eugenie Bouchard From Tennis Stardom to the Pickleball Frontier
ESPN – Tennis fans around the world were surprised and intrigued as former world No. 5 and 2014 Wimbledon finalist, Eugenie Bouchard, made an unexpected move by joining the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour for the upcoming 2024 season. The PPA didn’t hold back its excitement, dubbing the signing as “one of the biggest of the year” in a recent social media announcement.
At 29 years old, Eugenie Bouchard’s decision has raised questions about the future of her tennis career, as she has yet to comment on the implications of this new venture. Her tennis journey has been marked by the highs of her breakout season in 2014, where she achieved remarkable success by reaching the semifinals at both the Australian Open and the French Open, along with her memorable run to the Wimbledon final. However, in recent years, a series of injuries, including a surgery on her right shoulder, has limited her appearances on the tennis court.
Currently ranked at No. 215, Eugenie Bouchard faced disappointment in the second round of qualifying at the US Open last month and has not participated in a major main draw event since the 2020 French Open.
READ ALSO: Denver Broncos Pin Their Hopes on Super Bowl-Winning Coach Broncos Sean Payton to Revive Russell Wilson
Jack Sock and Eugenie Bouchard Lead the Tennis Exodus
Based on the published article of Tennis World, the world of pickleball has scored another victory with the addition of former top-10 tennis player Jack Sock to their ranks, following his retirement from professional tennis just before this year’s US Open. Sock’s transition to the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour, hot on the heels of Eugenie Bouchard’s surprising move, marks a significant milestone for the sport, as it continues to attract top talent from the tennis world.
Bouchard now joins the growing list of tennis players making the transition to pickleball. The sport’s popularity has led players like three-time major doubles champion Jack Sock to retire from tennis entirely to focus on pickleball. Notably, other tennis stars such as Donald Young, Sam Querrey, and Hurricane Tyra Black have also made similar transitions in recent months.