Currently playing in the qualifiers of the US Open, Eugenie Bouchard and Dayana Yastremska faced off against each other in an emphatic battle. The two stars were vying for a spot in the main rounds of the tournament. Yastremska came out on top in the match and defeated the Canadian with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. In a match that was all-action, it was the Ukranian who managed to land the ticket to the main round. However, the match had more drama in place as it ended.
The two players have a bad history as controversy surrounds them due to Bouchard’s act in the Madrid Open. This was reflected here in the qualifiers as well.
Bad blood between Eugenie Bouchard and Yastremska ignited again
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The long-standing dispute between Eugenie Bouchard and Dayana Yastremska once again took center stage during the qualifiers of the US Open. After their match concluded, a surprising turn of events unfolded at the net. In a departure from the customary display of sportsmanship, both players bypassed the traditional act of shaking hands with each other and instead headed straight to the umpire for the post-match handshake.
This intriguing choice revived memories of a contentious incident earlier in the year when Bouchard’s tweet during the Madrid Open sparked controversy between the two tennis stars. In the tweet shared, it can be clearly seen that the players are walking straight to the umpire instead of giving a handshake to each other first.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 24, 2023
The Madrid Open tweet, which had previously stirred the pot, resurfaced as a potential explanation for the unconventional gesture. As the tension between Bouchard and Yastremska continues to evolve, it begs the question. What was the controversy?
What was the Madrid Open controversy surrounding the players?
In any sport, maintaining fairness takes precedence, but Dayana appeared to struggle in adhering to this principle. Back in 2021, the Ukrainian athlete encountered a suspension when traces of mesterolone were detected in her system. However, as the year progressed, the ITF dismissed their earlier verdict, permitting her to continue playing. The decision came about when they determined that the positive test outcome couldn’t be attributed to the Ukrainian player’s actions.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Earlier this year, the two locked horns in Madrid. In an epic counter, Eugenie Bouchard came out on top and defeated the Ukrainian player. After the win, she took to Twitter to post, “There’s something about playing dopers in Madrid.” However, she later went to Twitter to apologize for her actions. In another tweet that followed, she mentioned that she did not have her facts checked, which led to her making a comment on the issue.
I want to apologize for my tweet yesterday. It was a lapse in judgment, and unnecessary. Though I’ve always championed fair play, I didn’t have all my facts in order and certainly didn’t mean to cause harm. I’m going to continue to work on myself going forward, both on and off…
— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) April 28, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Thus, this tweet ignited fumes and later became the reason for the controversy. Hence, not shaking hands after the match here at the US Open is the result of the same tweet that the Canadian player made some months ago.
WATCH THIS STORY | The Journey of Roger Federer to the Elite Billionaire’s Club