Former tennis star Eugenie Bouchard recently shared her candid thoughts on the rise of Canadian tennis over the years. The former World No. 5 also pointed to the youngster and world No. 10 Victoria Mboko as a key example of the sport’s evolving landscape in Canada.
Eugenie Bouchard Gets Honest on Canada’s ‘Wave of Tennis’ While Giving Victoria Mboko’s Example
Bouchard played a key role in fueling the wave of tennis in Canada. The Canadian reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 5 and finished runner-up at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, alongside semifinal runs at the Australian Open and the French Open.
After stepping away from the WTA Tour, Eugenie Bouchard has shifted her focus to pickleball. She joined the Professional Pickleball Association Tour in January 2024 and is now set to appear in the upcoming Pickleball Slam 4 exhibition event.
Following Bouchard’s rise, Canadian tennis witnessed several landmark moments, including Milos Raonic’s runner-up finish at Wimbledon, Bianca Andreescu’s 2019 US Open triumph, and Leylah Fernandez’s runner-up run at the 2021 US Open.
Canadian tennis continues to thrive with Victoria Mboko and Félix Auger-Aliassime emerging as prominent figures, both securing top-10 rankings. Mboko, in particular, has made a strong impression at a young age, claiming two titles, including the 2025 Canadian Open, and recently finishing runner-up in Doha.
SEE ALSO: Mirra Andreeva Presented With the Unvarnished Truth As Insider Reacts to Her Indian Wells Heartbreak
During a recent conversation with Tennis Channel’s Steve Weissman and Christopher Eubanks, Bouchard was asked how she felt after finishing runner-up at Wimbledon and receiving the runner-up plate.
“I was trying not to cry during this whole thing. So emotional seeing, not just my memories but all the Canadians and how well they have done over the years. It really feels like, there is this wave of tennis in Canada. It’s been going on for 10+ years now. To see the young one continue it, I am honored to be a part of it,” she said.Â
When asked how far Canadian tennis has come, Bouchard highlighted its growing depth, with more players emerging. She added that earlier successes helped inspire younger talents to believe they could succeed too, citing Victoria Mboko as an example and recalling how her powerful teenage game is now translating into strong results.
“It looks even deeper. We have more and more players now. I think seeing some of us back in the day doing well just gives them the belief, ‘Hey, someone from the same country who grew up training on the same spot did it. That means I can do it too.’ I think there is something real about that. And I just remembered practicing with Vicky back in the day,” she said.
“She was like 15-16 years old, and she was hitting the ball so big, she was so powerful on her forehand. And I thought, if she can just harness this power and control it a little more, obviously she will be good. Now I am saying this now seeing her results. But I was like so impressed with her power and her game back then, and we are seeing it come to life now,” Bouchard added.
Bouchard explained that Canada has fewer tennis resources and challenging weather, limiting outdoor play for months. As a result, many players train abroad, meaning aspiring professionals must adapt and find alternative training bases.
“We have way less. We don’t have a Grand Slam. We only have national centers. Once I was already into my teens, so growing up, I moved to Florida, I had to find other things to do. And as well, we don’t have that weather, as Jon Wertheim said. It’s tough… you can’t play indoors, seven months a year. Tennis is an outdoor sport, and so a lot of people leave or we find other training bases and so, you gotta make it work,” she concluded.
Mboko, meanwhile, is progressing steadily at the ongoing BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, having reached the quarterfinals. Awaiting her there is Aryna Sabalenka, presenting a formidable challenge for the Canadian.
