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Canadian women’s tennis star Eugenie Bouchard made headlines back in April when she voiced some strong opinions about Maria Sharapova.
“She’s a cheater and so, to me, I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again,” Bouchard said during an interview with TRT World this past spring, shortly after Sharapova returned from a 15-month doping suspension for testing positive for meldonium.
Three months later, she still stands by those words.
Now, as she prepares to hit the court for the upcoming Rogers Cup in Toronto next month, Bouchard was asked about those comments during an appearance on Prime Time Sports on Tuesday.
“I got asked a question and I couldn’t answer it not honestly,” she said.
Bouchard, 23, also reflected on what was a “tense” matchup against Sharapova during the second round of the Madrid Open shortly after Bouchard made the comments.
“I was on the court and I was motivated and obviously there was all the off-court controversy which I think made it into a very tense match,” said Bouchard, who came out victorious thanks to a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 performance — and a little extra shade.
“I went out and once I got on the court, I put everything else to the side and I just wanted to play as well as I could. I definitely had a little bit of extra motivation to kind of do it for all of us who have been fair to the sport and who have played the sport the true way it’s meant to be played,” she said.
“There were a lot [of messages] that day and I really felt a lot of support within the tennis community as well — players, coaches, agents, people from around the world who weren’t necessarily there just saying ‘I’m glad you said that, and I support you and I agree with you,’” said Bouchard, who is currently ranked No. 69 in the world. “I just realized a lot of people were maybe a bit afraid to speak out, but that’s how I am.”
Bouchard also spoke about some of her recent struggles, the state of women’s tennis right now, and the advice and inspiration she’s gained from working with tennis legend Andre Agassi. Listen to the full interview here:
Tennis star Genie Bouchard on PTS ahead of the Rogers Cup
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Eugenie Bouchard reflects on her Maria Sharapova comments
Genie Bouchard joined Prime Time Sports and talked about her comments regarding Maria Sharapova and playing the game “the right way.”
Canadian women’s tennis star Eugenie Bouchard made headlines back in April when she voiced some strong opinions about Maria Sharapova.
“She’s a cheater and so, to me, I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again,” Bouchard said during an interview with TRT World this past spring, shortly after Sharapova returned from a 15-month doping suspension for testing positive for meldonium.
Three months later, she still stands by those words.
Now, as she prepares to hit the court for the upcoming Rogers Cup in Toronto next month, Bouchard was asked about those comments during an appearance on Prime Time Sports on Tuesday.
“I got asked a question and I couldn’t answer it not honestly,” she said.
Bouchard, 23, also reflected on what was a “tense” matchup against Sharapova during the second round of the Madrid Open shortly after Bouchard made the comments.
“I was on the court and I was motivated and obviously there was all the off-court controversy which I think made it into a very tense match,” said Bouchard, who came out victorious thanks to a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 performance — and a little extra shade.
“I went out and once I got on the court, I put everything else to the side and I just wanted to play as well as I could. I definitely had a little bit of extra motivation to kind of do it for all of us who have been fair to the sport and who have played the sport the true way it’s meant to be played,” she said.
“There were a lot [of messages] that day and I really felt a lot of support within the tennis community as well — players, coaches, agents, people from around the world who weren’t necessarily there just saying ‘I’m glad you said that, and I support you and I agree with you,’” said Bouchard, who is currently ranked No. 69 in the world. “I just realized a lot of people were maybe a bit afraid to speak out, but that’s how I am.”
Bouchard also spoke about some of her recent struggles, the state of women’s tennis right now, and the advice and inspiration she’s gained from working with tennis legend Andre Agassi. Listen to the full interview here:
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