Eugenie Bouchard explains why playing tennis is 'just not worth it anymore' ahead of her retirement in Montreal

At 31 years of age, former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard is set to play the last match of her career at the Canadian Open in Montreal.

Bouchard announced her retirement from professional tennis last week in a post on social media, stating: “You’ll know when it’s time. For me, it’s now. Ending where it all started: Montreal.”

The Canadian made a recent comeback, playing her first match on the WTA Tour in a year, partnering with Clervie Ngounoue in doubles at the Washington Open.

After the two lost in the first round, Bouchard will now prepare for one last dance at her home tournament.

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Eugenie Bouchard reveals why she wants to retire from tennis

In a press conference at the Washington Open, Bouchard said: “I think all good things come to an end. I love tennis. I’ll always love tennis. I will stay involved in tennis.

“But it just takes so much dedication, sacrifice, and, you know, dedicating your entire life to have a chance to make it.

“That’s something I have done my whole life thus far. For me, at a certain point, that’s just not worth it anymore. So I’m kind of at that stage.

“I think with a little bit more time, once I’m really done, I’ll be able to process more and really reflect on my career. I haven’t done that thus far.

“I feel like I kind of did the whole spectrum of positive, negative, good results, bad results, and I guess that’s what life is, too, right? So tennis was a little kind of sample of what real life is.”

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Eugenie Bouchard says she doesn’t want her retirement to be a funeral

Bouchard said of her last campaign in Montreal: “Right before I announced it, I was kind of stressed about this whole situation.

“I had this thought of, oh, I just want to fast-track until August and put it all behind me, and then I got such an outpouring of support and so many people reached out to me, and I saw so much positivity out in the universe.

“I was, like, okay, wait, let me embrace this time. It’s such a unique time in my life and something I have never done before and will never do again, really, unless I retire from my normal office job in 40 years.

“So I’m, like, you know what? I’m actually excited. First I was quite stressed about the whole ordeal, and then seeing the love I got, feeling so supported and appreciated made me feel so excited.

“So I’m looking forward to it. I want to make it like a celebration, not a funeral and see everybody.”

The former world number five will hope to go far at the tournament in front of her home crowd.

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