Eugenie Bouchard has admitted that she lost her senses for some of the most basic things in tennis during her 18-month injury hiatus. The 28-year-old Bouchard played his final tournament of the 2021 season in March of that year before undergoing shoulder surgery in June of the same year.
In August 2022, Bouchard returned to action at a WTA 125 event in Vancouver after being sidelined for a year and a half. In the first round in Vancouver, Bouchard suffered a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Arianne Hartono, ranked number 237.
“In my first match, I felt the ball coming at me very quickly. I was playing a 200th ranked player and obviously I don’t want to disrespect her, but I literally thought I was playing Serena Williams. Her ball was coming so fast at me, I was like, ‘Oh my God.’
And that is what is lost the most, the speed of reaction and speed. That’s why I tried to play so many tournaments in a row, because I needed matches right now,” Bouchard explained to the WTA Tour website. After beginning her 2022 season in August, Bouchard played nine tournaments before she finished the season.
Bouchard didn’t really enjoy much success in those nine tournaments played, but the most important thing to her was that her shoulder wasn’t causing her any pain or discomfort. “I played three months in a row, from August to November, and I didn’t have any problems with my shoulder.
After playing a lot, sometimes it gets a bit tense, but it’s very normal and to be expected. I’m looking forward to the 2023 calendar.” Bouchard added. Meanwhile, Bouchard kicked off his 2023 season at the Auckland ASB Classic.
After winning her first round match of the Auckland qualifiers, Bouchard suffered food poisoning and was forced to withdraw from her final round match of the qualifiers.
Serena always needed an arm or a leg
During the same interview with CBS Mornings, Serena Williams also opened up about her inability to relax.
“It’s so hard for me to relax. I don’t know how to relax. I have to schedule it in my schedule. I’m not kidding,” Serena Williams asserted, seated outdoors in her sprawling Florida home. “I’m currently allowing myself to be tired.
Allowing myself to relax. Allowing myself to just be. It’s harder than I ever imagined. I’ve never allowted myself to do any of that before,” Serena Williams wrote on social media.
