Leylah Fernandez has a message for Eugenie Bouchard as she plays her final tournament in Montreal

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As one Canadian star continues to make noise on the WTA Tour, another prepares to retire from tennis.

Canadian number one Leylah Fernandez won the Washington Open last time out, picking up her first title above the WTA 250 level.

At a very different stage in her career, former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard is set to retire from tennis at the Canadian Open.

Prolonging her career by at least one more match, Bouchard won her opener in Montreal to set up a second-round tie with Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic.

Speaking to the media ahead of her first-round match, Fernandez gave her verdict on Bouchard.

Leylah Fernandez is very sad seeing ‘legend’ Eugenie Bouchard retire from tennis

During her pre-tournament press conference, Fernandez shared her thoughts on the 2014 Wimbledon runner-up.

“I saw Eugenie [Bouchard] very briefly before her doubles match. I greeted her. I am very sad that she is going to leave the sport. She is a very, very good player and a legend for Canadian tennis,” she said.

“She really gave a lot of confidence to young people like me, and I am sure to other young girls and even boys.

“So she gave us a lot of motivation to continue on a very difficult road. But she is a legend, and I am happy that she has an opportunity to play these last matches here in Montreal, where it all started for her.”

Making her return to the WTA Tour in Washington, Bouchard partnered up with Clervie Ngounoue for the doubles tournament.

The pair fell to Venus Williams and Hailey Baptiste in the first round, as the Canadian switched her focus to Montreal and one last run in the singles.

Taking on Colombia’s Emiliana Arango on Centre Court, Bouchard battled through in three sets, picking up her first win since September 2023.

Bouchard will now prepare to take on Bencic, against whom she trails the head-to-head, 0-3.

• 2022 Ostrava R32 – Belinda Bencic beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-7, 6-1, 6-4
• 2015 Toronto R64 – Belinda Bencic beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-0, 5-7, 6-2
• 2015 Eastbourne R16 – Belinda Bencic beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 3-0 (RET)

Only time will tell if the 31-year-old can pick up her first win against Bencic when the pair face off for a place in the third round on Wednesday, July 30.

Eugenie Bouchard’s legendary tennis career

Fernandez described Bouchard as a legend of Canadian tennis, and she was right to do so, as the former world number five made history for her country.

At Wimbledon in 2014, Bouchard became the first Canadian-born player representing Canada to qualify for a major singles final when she defeated Simona Halep in the semifinals at SW19.

Coming up short in the final, Bouchard lost to Petra Kvitova in straight sets, just as she did in her maiden WTA 1000 final later in the year.

• 2014 Wimbledon F – Petra Kvitova beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-0
• 2014 Wuhan Open F – Petra Kvitova beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-4

Whilst her form soon tailed off on the WTA Tour, Bouchard wasn’t done making history for Canada, as she played a vital role in the nation’s Billie Jean King Cup victory two years ago.

The country hadn’t qualified for the final before 2023, but a strong group of players were keen to change that in Spain.

Bouchard played two matches in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, partnering Gabriela Dabrowski to wins over Spain’s Rebeka Masarova/Sara Sorribes Tormo and Poland’s Weronika Falkowska/Katarzyna Kawa.

When Canada advanced to the semifinals, Bouchard dropped to the bench, with Fernandez taking her place in the doubles to defeat Czechia 2-1.

The deciding doubles tie wasn’t necessary in the final, as Canada defeated Italy 2-0, thanks to wins from Marina Stakusic and Fernandez in the singles.

For the first time in their history, Canada had won the Billie Jean King Cup, as Bouchard and Fernandez lifted the trophy high in Seville.

Bouchard wasn’t quite able to win a Grand Slam title during her tennis career, but she will still leave behind a legacy worth remembering.

Perhaps her efforts will inspire Fernandez to win her first major, as she looks to return to the grandest stage after losing the 2021 US Open final to Emma Raducanu.

Looking to build confidence ahead of the US Open, Fernandez will begin her Canadian Open campaign on Tuesday, July 29, when she takes on Australia’s Maya Joint.