In what was anticipated as a farewell match before retirement, Bouchard surprised fans with a peak performance, securing victory after over two hours of play on 29/7. This marks the former 2014 Wimbledon finalist's first win in two years and her first victory at the Canadian Open, now called the National Bank Open, in a decade.

"If I win the whole thing, I’m not retiring," a jubilant Bouchard told her home crowd after the 29/7 evening victory. Over the past two years, the former world number 5 has transitioned to pickleball but hasn't fully retired from tennis. Her contract with the US Pickleball Association allows her to participate in any tennis event.

Bouchard celebrates her victory over Arango on Centre Court in the first round of the Canadian Open in Montreal on 29/7. Photo: Reuters

Bouchard celebrates her victory over Arango on Centre Court in the first round of the Canadian Open in Montreal on 29/7. Photo: Reuters

Despite not officially retiring, Bouchard has been largely absent from professional tennis, playing only five matches in the past two years. Her most recent appearance was at the Newport Open in May, where she lost to Shelby Rogers in straight sets.

"If I lose today, I’m pretty much done with tennis", Bouchard admitted to the crowd. "So I tried to treat it like a normal match. I told myself that with every point and tried to take the pressure off."

The Montreal crowd enthusiastically supported Bouchard, their cheers echoing throughout the stadium. She was once their pride and hope, reaching the final stages of Grand Slams, including the semifinals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and the 2014 Wimbledon final.

With her tennis talent and striking looks, Bouchard has been dubbed "the world's hottest tennis player" by publications like the Sun. Her appearance has been compared to Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic. Bouchard was once considered a pioneer of Canadian tennis.

Bouchard poses for a photo shoot with US magazine SI.

However, her career declined after suffering a concussion at the 2015 US Open. Since then, she has struggled with form and injuries, leading to a drop in her rankings. Bouchard hasn't reached the main draw of a Grand Slam in the past five years. Despite this, she remains a prominent figure in women's tennis, actively involved in fashion, modeling, and social media.

Bouchard's next opponent at the Canadian Open is Belinda Bencic, a recent Wimbledon semifinalist and the 2015 Canadian Open champion. "I hope to have another memorable day," Bouchard said about the match scheduled for 31/7.

Vy Anh