This week, Eugenie Bouchard won't be thinking about tennis and will instead focus on pickleball, a new passion.
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The 29-year-old Quebecer will take part in her first professional tournament in a booming sport at the Palm Springs Masters starting Wednesday in California.
“I find it interesting to do something new. I really like having battles that force me to try something new. That's why I decided to do this,” she explained in French on Monday in a video that the PPA circle sent to the media.
Bouchard will compete in singles, doubles with former Taiwanese tennis player Wang Chao-Yi and mixed doubles with American Tyler Loong.
Some pleasure
Bouchard described herself as “competitive” and said she was excited to take on the challenge but was also “nervous.”
“I don’t really know what to expect,” the former world No. 5 admitted to the WTA. I think it's better to have no expectations and just do my best because it's my first tournament in a new sport. I’ll just try to have fun and not embarrass myself.”
All the better if “Genie” finds a smile again on the pitch, regardless of the discipline. The last few years have not been easy for the former Wimbledon finalist in 2014, injuries have now caused her to drop to 293rd place.
Last summer, she once again felt the love of fans who turned out in large numbers for the first round of qualifying for the National Bank Open at her home in Montreal. Despite the loss, Bouchard mentioned that she “still has things to prove.”
She's not done with tennis yet
In the English version of the PPA video, she confirmed that she would “continue playing tennis” even though her last tournament was in September. She had reached the second round in Mexico.
However, Eugenie can draw inspiration from her first love, pickleball.
“In tennis, I really enjoy hitting the ball. My reaction time is also good with pickleball because the ball is different and comes slower. I feel like I have a lot of time when I'm online,” she explained.
“What I need to improve is hitting balls at the net,” she continued, as these delicate shots are less common in tennis. I need to adjust my strength.”
Another Quebecer
“Genie” isn’t the only tennis player to switch rackets – pickleball is played with a full racket and a holed ball on a small court. The Americans Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and Donald Young, who have already reached eighth, 11th and 38th place in the ATP, will also be in action in Rancho Mirage this week.
In doubles, Sock will team with Montrealer Catherine Parenteau, ranked second in the world in singles and doubles and fifth in mixed doubles.