Tennis players Eugenie Bouchard and Jessica Pegula vented their frustration on social media over the continuing mayhem at Newark Liberty International Airport. Angry with a series of relentless delays, both players had no qualms as they complained to fans.
Bouchard and Pegula Call Out Newark Airport Mayhem With Sarcastic Social Media Posts
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is currently facing a series of operational issues that have caused wide-ranging flight delays and cancellations. The problems are the result of a combination of Air Traffic Control staffing shortages, outmoded equipment, radar failures, and ongoing runway construction.
As an answer to such challenges, the FAA recommended reduced temporary flights at Newark with maximum arrivals and departures as a measure of mitigating delays and congestion. Such aggregated troubles resulted in vast delays and cancellations, urging travelers to choose other options.
In a tweet, Bouchard documented the six different flight time delays she saw trying to arrive in Newark. Her initial flight, originally for 8:35 p.m., was pushed back repeatedly, ultimately being rescheduled to 11:30 p.m. She joked that she was coming back to Newark the next evening, tweeting:
“My flight time changes flying into Newark last night: 8:35pm (original), 9:45pm, 9pm, 9:35pm, 10:45pm, 11pm, 11:30pm. Returning to Newark tonight, because apparently I like pain. Wish me luck.”
Jessica Pegula, one of the top-ranked American players, joined in with a story of her own. She disclosed that on one recent trip flying through Newark, she met with an 8-hour delay. She posted:
“I flew back through here recently when the delays started. I was delayed 8 hrs. It was like a rain delay and I just kept getting texts bumping me every 30 min/hour lol.”
I flew back through here recently when the delays started. I was delayed 8 hrs. It was like a rain delay and I just kept getting texts bumping me every 30 min/hour lol
— Jessie Pegula (@JPegula)
World No. 4 Jessica Pegula just wrapped up her fourth Italian Open campaign. The third seed entered the second round after a bye, beating fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-2. Her Rome journey, though, ended when she was beaten by 25th seed Elise Mertens in the third round.
Former World No. 5 Eugenie Bouchard has charted a new course by transitioning to professional pickleball, following a challenging stretch in her tennis career marked by injuries and setbacks. In September 2023, she announced her move to the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour with a three-year contract.
Bouchard officially began competing on the WTA circuit in pickleball when she played in the 2024 PPA Hyundai Masters. She last played on the WTA circuit at the 2024 National Bank Open in Toronto, where she lost in the qualifying rounds as a wild card.
Eugenie Bouchard Spoke About Adopting Pickleball and Having One Foot in Tennis
Eugenie Bouchard has taken up the challenge of competing in both tennis and pickleball. In an interview with the New York Post in July 2024, she confirmed that she still had a passion for tennis and that it would be included in her schedule.
“I’m going to put tennis tournaments in where I can fit them in my schedule,” Eugenie Bouchard said. “Tennis is what I love and what I still want to keep doing. The pickleball schedule is the priority but I do want to insert those tennis tournaments.”
“I want to achieve whatever I can,” she added. “I’m not doing a full-time tennis schedule, so of course I need to understand that there will be limitations. I think I want to do as well as I can in each individual tournament and see where that goes. But I love tennis and it’s not something I want to give up yet at all.”
