Eugenie Bouchard narrowly avoids serious injury after pickleball training mishap

Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard revealed on Instagram that she narrowly avoided losing an eye after being struck by a plastic ball during a pickleball training session.

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The incident occurred when the ball, hit by her teammate, accidentally ricocheted directly into her eye. The injury forced Bouchard to seek medical attention, but fortunately, doctors assured her that the damage was minor and would heal within a few days.

Bouchard, who has achieved notable success in tennis, has recently taken an interest in pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. The game, which can be played in singles or doubles format, has been gaining popularity worldwide.

Eugenie Bouchard was the Wimbledon girls’ champion in 2012 and became a finalist in the senior Wimbledon tournament in 2014. That same year, she reached the semifinals of the French Open and Australian Open. Her career-high WTA ranking was world No. 5, achieved in 2014.