Pickleball’s rapid rise continues to draw top athletes from other sports, and former tennis star Genie Bouchard is among the latest to embrace the shift.
The Canadian opened up about her transition, pointing to a mix of timing, opportunity and the demands of professional tennis.
According to a report by Athlon Sports, Bouchard said her introduction to pickleball came during a period when the sport was gaining momentum globally.
“I played with friends in the Covid time. I think that’s when a lot of people kind of picked it up and it started really becoming popular then,” she said.
The move toward a more serious involvement came later. “At the end of 2023, after the US Open, my agent just came to me and was like, ‘Hey, we have this opportunity. If you want to play some events on the PPA, which is like the Professional Pickleball Association, play in their league, you could do that.'”
Bouchard said the appeal of pickleball was tied to both its growth and a shift in her own priorities. “The positives of trying something new, being a part of something that’s growing so much. And (not having to worry about) the negatives of tennis, which for me were … physical pain, you know, the physical aspect that tennis requires. And the constant travel, just like the huge life sacrifice that it takes.”
After more than two decades in tennis, the decision came down to balance. “I’ve done that for 20-plus years and so grateful for everything it gave me. But at the same time, I was like, OK, I don’t want to keep doing this forever.”
With those factors in mind, the transition felt natural. “So, with all those combined factors, I was like, let’s try it.”