Eugenie Bouchard crashes back to earth in ‘despicable’ furore at Madrid Open
The Canadian tennis player issued an apology for her actions after being eliminated from the tournament.
Eugenie Bouchard has issued an apology for inflammatory comments she made about ‘dopers’ after being eliminated from the Madrid Open on Friday. The Canadian tennis star won just her second match at WTA 1000 level in the last four years on Wednesday when she beat Dayana Yastremska in the first round.
It marked a huge step in the right direction for Bouchard after a number of years in the wilderness battling injuries and inconsistent form. But the 29-year-old undid all her good work when she took an extraordinary swipe at her beaten opponent on social media.
In a tweet that was later deleted, Bouchard wrote: “There’s something about playing dopers in Madrid.” Bouchard’s comments were a reference to the fact that Yastremska tested positive for anabolic steroid mesterolone in 2021, before a provisional suspension was lifted when the International Tennis Federation found she “bore no fault or negligence” for the failed test.
Bouchard was also referencing her win over Maria Sharapova in Madrid in 2017, which came just months after the Russian star had made her return following a 15-month suspension for using banned substance meldonium in 2016. Speaking in 2017, Bouchard said she believed Sharapova got off lightly.
“She’s a cheater. I don’t think a cheater at any sport should be allowed to play that sport again,” she said.
“It’s so unfair to all the other players who do it the right way and are true. I think from the WTA it sends the wrong message to young kids: ‘Cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms.’ I don’t think that’s right, and definitely not someone I look up to anymore because it’s definitely ruined it for me a little bit.”
