Eugenie Bouchard drags USTA to court for US Open locker room slip
As reported by The Associated Press, Canadian tennis pro Eugenie Bouchard has filed a lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association after she slipped and fell in the locker room during the US Open.
The 21-year-old former Wimbledon finalist claimed that she fell because of a "slippery, foreign and dangerous substance'' on the floor of the physiotherapy room in the women’s locker room. She suffered a head injury from the accident, as a result of which she had to withdraw from the Grand Slam tournament.
Bouchard claims her injuries "were caused solely by the reason of carelessness, negligence, wanton and willful disregard on the part of Defendant USTA." She further adds that the USTA did not keep the locker room in good enough conditions for the athletes. She blames the organization for not repairing the already damaged floor which led to her fall.
The Canadian had already qualified for the fourth round of US Open when this incident happened. She fell backwards and landed on the back of her head, which forced her withdrawal from US Open and from subsequent WTA tournaments in Tokyo and Wuhan.
The problems started when earlier this month Bouchard was forced to retire from her opening match in China Open against Andrea Petkovic. This was her first match since the accident at US Open.
"I thought I was physically ready, but unfortunately, the symptoms of my concussion came back," Bouchard said in a statement after the China withdrawal. "I hope to get well soon and look forward to returning next year."
After Bouchard retired from the match, her opponent Petkovic came around to check on her.
"I just asked her what happened, and she told me that she felt very dizzy," Petkovic said after the match. "Then I asked if it was the same, if it still was the concussion. She said it tends to come back when she gets physically very active."
It has been a difficult year for Canada's Bouchard following her breakout season in 2014, when she reached the Wimbledon final and the semis at the Australian Open and French Open. Her record in 2015, meanwhile, is just 12-17, and her ranking has fallen all the way from No. 5 to No. 38.
Meanwhile, USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier said the organization does not comment on ongoing litigation.