Eugenie Bouchard sensationally QUITS tennis tour to turn professional at pickleball as loyal fans share heartbreak
EUGENIE BOUCHARD has dumped tennis for PICKLEBALL.
And upset fans of the "hottest tennis player ever" are having a fickle bawl at her shock decision.
Pickleball chiefs are calling the ex-world No5's switch to their professional circuit "one of the biggest signings of the year".
But the 2014 Wimbledon finalist, 29, has faced a volley of agonised comments online.
Many of Bouchard's 2.4million Instagram followers bemoaned the "sad moment" - as she causes a ding-dong by moving to what one fan called "giant ping-pong".
But others reckon the Canadian's fall down the tennis rankings to No215 means she will be no great loss to the more traditional sport.
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One observer had a subtle swipe by posting: "Good luck to Genie. It’s ok for ex-tennis players to make a living in a less demanding sport."
Another said: "Man wow it really has gone downhill for Genie from WTA to pickleball."
A third groaned: "I just can’t get onboard the Pickleball train. I find it like watching giants on a mini tennis court. Not a fan."
Bouchard hasn't officially turned her back on tennis for good - but she's signed to Pickleball from next year.
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She follows ex-world No8 men's tennis player Jack Sock, who made the change in sports after the US Open.
And if Sock's appeal couldn't be guaranteed for Pickleball, it surely can now - after the addition of "one of the prettiest ladies on Earth".
