Kamal Ghorui
Eugenie Bouchard has opened up about something many fans don’t always see, how early success can quietly turn into pressure. The former Canadian star said she and Emma Raducanu went through a very similar phase after making big breakthroughs at a young age. Eugenie Bouchard reached the Wimbledon final in 2014 when she was just 20. She did not drop a single set on the way and became the first Canadian-born player to reach a Grand Slam singles final. That same year, she also made the Australian Open semifinal and climbed to World No. 5.Emma Raducanu had her own big moment in 2021. At just 18, she won the US Open title in a stunning run. But since then, she has not been able to go past the fourth round at any Grand Slam. Talking in a media interaction, Eugenie Bouchard said the expectations that follow such early success can feel harsh and unrealistic.“[People think], ‘When are you going to win another one? Now you’re going to win one a year for the next 10 years.’ And it just doesn’t work like that.”
Eugenie Bouchard explains pressure after success while Emma Raducanu continues to deal with expectations
Eugenie Bouchard made it clear that fans often expect too much, too quickly. According to her, once a young player wins big, people assume that level will continue every year. But tennis does not work like that. Form changes, injuries happen, and every season brings new challenges.Her own journey shows that clearly. After her strong 2014 season, things became difficult. A head injury during the 2015 US Open affected her momentum. Over time, her ranking dropped, going down to No. 191 by Wimbledon 2018.Emma Raducanu is facing a different situation but with a similar pattern. After her US Open win, she has struggled to find consistent results at Grand Slams. The expectations around her have stayed high, even when results have not matched that early success.Eugenie Bouchard also recently closed a big chapter in her career. She played her final professional match at the 2025 Canadian Open in Montreal, as reported by official tournament coverage. She lost in the second round to Belinda Bencic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. After the match, she shared an emotional message about ending her career at home.“It was such a special night and a special week in general here in Montreal. I’m glad I was able to play some decent tennis on the court and just absorb all the special emotional moments with the fans, with my family and friends who are here. It’s just kind of a perfect ending for me.”“I’ve always had a feeling I would end my career here. Just makes sense. Montreal is where I was born and raised, so it just feels right. Yeah, just an emotional moment. I think I just wanted a moment like this because my career kind of deserved a moment like this is what I felt like. I really think I got it tonight, and I’m so grateful for that.” After stepping away from tennis, Eugenie Bouchard has now moved into pickleball.
