"Maria Sharapova will always be better than you" - Tennis fans react to Eugenie Bouchard taking 'doper' dig at Russian after Madrid Open 1R win
Eugenie Bouchard is facing the wrath of tennis fans after she subtly took a dig at Maria Sharapova over her doping suspension. Bouchard made the thinly veiled jibe at the Russian following her first-round win in Madrid.
Several years ago, Eugenie Bouchard had mocked Maria Sharapova over her infamous doping suspension. When Sharapova returned to the tour in 2017 after serving a drug ban, the Canadian called her "a cheater."
"She is a cheater. So, to me, I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again. It’s so unfair to all the other players who do it the right way and are true," Bouchard had said in an interview at the time.
The duo faced each other shortly after that interview, at the Madrid Open. An intense three-hour battle later, Bouchard had the last laugh; she beat Sharapova 6-4 in the third set to reach the third round of the tournament.
On Thursday (April 27), playing her first Madrid Open since that 2017 edition, Bouchard beat Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-2 to reach the second round. After her win over Yastremska, who was also recently suspended over a positive doping test, Bouchard turned to Twitter to take a subtle dig at playing "dopers" in Madrid.
"There’s something about playing dopers in Madrid," Eugenie Bouchard wrote.
There’s something about playing dopers in Madrid… https://t.co/wGLDZdVBiB
Tennis fans, however, were quick to criticize the former Wimbledon finalist for her comment.
"still unpleasant at your big age huh," one fan wrote.
@geniebouchard still unpleasant at your big age huh
Some also stated that Sharapova will always be the better player of the two.
"Sharapova will always be better than you," one wrote.
@geniebouchard Sharapova will always be better than you.
There were others who were seemingly shocked to see this kind of statement from Bouchard.
"No way she really tweeted this??????I checked the account 3 times to be sure it's not a fake account, pls Genie," a fan said.
No way she really tweeted this?????? 😭😭😭😭😭 I checked the account 3 times to be sure it's not a fake account, pls Genie 😭 twitter.com/geniebouchard/…
Some fans also stated it was inhumane of Bouchard to mock Yastremska, given that she recently lost her grandfather.
"idk about anyone else but doesn't sit right with me that she tweeted this after beating a player whose Grandfather dies yesterday," one fan wrote.
idk about anyone else but doesn't sit right with me that she tweeted this after beating a player whose Grandfather dies yesterday
Other fans continued to criticize Eugenie Bouchard for her behavior.
"I will never understand where all that confidence Bouchard has came from, like you would expect her to be more humble after everything but no, she is still the same girl and she has exactly 1 title to her name I might add, so imagine if Sakkari was this confident," one fan wrote.
I will never understand where all that confidence Bouchard has came from, like you would expect her to be more humble after everything but no, she is still the same girl ☠️ and she has exactly 1 title to her name I might add, so imagine if Sakkari was this confident.
Below are a few more fan reactions:
this is also misleading as at the end Yastremska wasn't banned for doping: she was suspended from the tour until her case was solved and she was cleared.
you may argue whatever your opinion is, but this is it.
don't know why anybody would really feel the need for this tweet. twitter.com/geniebouchard/…
twitter.com/geniebouchard/… https://t.co/ltwGnj6Aoj
twitter.com/geniebouchard/… https://t.co/ltwGnj6Aoj
There’s no way you pressed send on this. twitter.com/geniebouchard/…
@geniebouchard you wish you had 5 grand slams tho
Imagine being this obsessed, wins her first match here since 2017 and all she could think about is Masha.
Clearly can't get her out of your head, can you? 🥱🥱 twitter.com/geniebouchard/… https://t.co/L6YdM3OKMe
Mrs Bouchard got REAL excited after getting only her second MD win of the year 🤣🤣 maybe she needa try that doping too twitter.com/geniebouchard/…
Eugenie Bouchard to take on Martina Trevisan in 2R of Madrid Open
Eugenie Bouchard will lock horns with Italy's Martina Trevisan in the second round of the Madrid Open.
The Canadian qualified for the Madrid main draw for the first time in six years by beating Elizabeth Mandlik in the second round of qualifying. She had received a walkover from Sara Sorribes Tormo in the first round, while leading 6-1, 4-1.
Trevisan, on the other hand, received a bye in the first round and will kick off her Madrid Open campaign against Bouchard.