Eugenie Bouchard aims extraordinary dig at Madrid Open rival who had doping ban lifted

Eugenie Bouchard took aim at Dayana Yastremska after winning their Madrid Open clash after the Ukrainian had a doping ban lifted in 2021.

Eugenie Bouchard has taken aim at Dayana Yastremska after beating the 22-year-old in their Madrid Open clash. The Ukrainian was suspended for doping in early 2021 but had her ban lifted in June of that year after it was ruled that she bore “no fault or negligence for the violation.”

Bouchard is enjoying a successful run in Madrid, where she came through qualifying to reach the main draw. In her opening match on Wednesday, the Canadian came from a set down to defeat Yastremska 6-7(6) 6-2 6-2 and advance to the second round.

And a day later, the 29-year-old took to Twitter to take aim at her first-round opponent. Alongside a photo of herself fistpumping on the court, Bouchard wrote: “There’s something about playing dopers in Madrid…”

It’s a reference to the previous doping ban Yastremska was given at the beginning of 2021. But the Ukrainian was cleared just six months later and resumed competing on the tour in June of that year, with the ITF stating that they “accepted Ms. Yastremska’s account of how the mesterolone entered her system and determined that she bore no fault or negligence for the violation