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The remaining wild cards for this year’s National Bank Open women’s event in Toronto were announced by Tennis Canada Wednesday.
And in addition Bianca Andreescu and Serena Williams, the three remaining free passes for the tournament’s main draw – which begins in less than two weeks – have been distributed to Canadians Rebecca Marino, Carol Zhao and Katherine Sebov.
Notably, that means that Genie Bouchard – who had requested a wild card – will not be there. At least, not on the court.
Either the others were chosen ahead of her or – more likely – the 28-year-old still isn’t ready to return to action.
Mboko, Cross get qualifying wild cards
When we spoke to the two young Canadians after their Wimbledon girls’ doubles finals defeat, they expected to take part in the pre-qualifying tournament to be held next week.
They won’t have to; both Victoria Mboko, 15 and Kayla Cross, 17, will be straight into the qualifying.
Another qualifying wild card is gone to the French Tennis Federation, in exchange for the wild card given to Zhao for the qualies at the 2021 French Open.
The fourth will go to the winner of the pre-qualifying tournament.
What’s next for Bouchard?
The former world No. 5 is still on the mend from shoulder surgery performed in June, 2021.
She has had three wild cards announced this spring and summer – a $100K ITF in Florida, a WTA 125 on grass in Italy and next week’s Citi Open in Washington, D.C.
The first two came and went without Bouchard acknowledging them. But she did make a video announcing her appearance in D.C.
Since then, she has disappeared from the entry list and the photo graphics.
On Wednesday, she was hitting in Tampa, Fla. – on Har-Tru, not hard courts – with Cameron Ahari, a 32-year-old financial advisor who played college tennis at the University of North Carolina a decade ago.
Until a year ago, Ahari was a marketing manager at Nike.
Bouchard is not on the entry list for the new WTA Tour event in Granby, which takes place the week before the US Open. But of course they would be happy to give her a wild card, if she is ready to play.
The Canadian also has not entered the qualifying at the US Open, for which the deadline is Monday.
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It seems that the last Q place in Toronto has been won in that pre-Q tourney by Marina Stakusic, who for the last two years has been mainly supported by her family, and not by Tennis Canada, AFAIK. Bravo to them, if that’s so.
She has been playing a lot of ITFs in Europe – mostly in Balkan countries – along with her brother Marko.
She seems to be “part” of the group on some level – won the dubs in Saskatoon with Kayla Cross.
Not every family wants to cede total control to Tennis Canada. Some of them want to do their own thing.
She was the one winning today from the Canadian women. Very good result. Tough match again tomorrow vs Martinkova in final round of Qs. I’m not sure how she played (I got the streaming working later in the day) but I know Mboko and Cross need a more varied game – i.e. I watched recently in training in Montreal, and during one hour none of them hit a slice – and that was before Wimbledon. If I were their coach, I would guide them towards a 1HBH for a varied game a la Henin. They would be special and dangerous. Now, how about yourself, do you plan to be in both Toronto and Montreal? I really appreciate your very fine knowledge and volume of work.
Stakusic got a default after her opponent won one game in the first set and retired injured. (Also, as an aside, her brother Marko got a wild card into the doubles in Montreal).
This is not a “good result”. This is pure dumb luck.
Also – I’ve seen Cross play often and she has a very nice slice. In fact, she has a hugely varied. funky game. What she lacks is power.So if you’re basing your evaluation on an hour’s practice in Montreal which probably was focused on something else, that’s thin soup.
And, yeah, no, they are not going to have a one-handed backhand. If they ever were (which wasn’t going to happen), it would have happened before they hit the top level of the juniors. To say the least, it’s far too late.
The Henin era is long gone. If you can name me a single “dangerous” player on the WTA Tour who has a one-handed topspin backhand, maybe you can buttress your case. Not that this doesn’t sadden me. But it’s true all the same!
“Dangerous”? How about Tatjana Maria making the Wimbledon SFs at 35 with 2 children and a 1HBH to which she switched at the ripe old age of 29 (proving late conversion is feasible)? How about Diane Parry, who became #1 Jr in the world by beating Gauff? True, she is not yet a top player yet in the WTA, but has progressed steadily this year to get in the 70s at 19-20. Her topspin 1HBH is a thing of beauty, able to go through most of her opponents. Also, we can’t neglect Tsitsipas and Tiem in the ATP. It’s just the academies-inspired, this predominance of the 2HBH, lazy coaching that I see in many places.
Tatjana Maria’s coach wasn’t lazy – being her husband too provided enough incentive, I guess. When you have a player anxious to come to the net, an all-courter, you’re making them a disservice by not teaching and training them something patterned at least in part on Federer and Henin, because their sides will not be well-balanced. Case in point: I saw Melodie Collard when 15-16 in Montreal. Hungry for the net, she was much less proficient/efficient on the BH side, with her 2HBH. After some successes in the juniors, she plateau-ed. Even more, her 2HBH wasn’t that great to keep it. Her whole game was based on FH and successful forays at the net _on the right side_. BTW, I think Raonic might have had better chances at a Wimbledon, with a 1HBH.
I fundamentally disagree with basically every sentence in your reply.
So you’re probably best offering your take somewhere else 😛
I admit that the above comment is beyond my acceptance: I am shocked to learn that Stakusic game could be qualified as a ” pure dumb luck”…
I am not so sure if you watched how well Marina played that set in which she dismantled her Chinese opponent! I definitely consider your comment as inappropriate regarding Marina’s game. She offered the proof of a high level tennis of which is capable of yesterday during her match against Martincova.
Stakusic played yesterday well, and with no doubt she is the Canadian HOPE in the women’s tennis for the next couple of years! Go Stakusic Go!
IF I may, I want to suggest to keep of the grass of keeping the side of one player only: Kayla is a very nice person and a reasonable player, unfortunately, at this moment she is far away from being a such a star as you described within your comments…I wish her just the best exactly as I wish all of the Canadian girls to be the best in the World: she clearly has potential, but comparing her with Stakusic is just a bit too much…(IMO)…Stakusic offered the proof that she serves well, she has an outstanding ability to rally with WTA players, and she is a good fighter! I enjoyed a lot seeing her play against Martincova! Go Marina Go!
Oh my, are you Marina Stakusic’s mom?
Never ever would I say, or think, or write that any young player is a “star”. Not Kayla Cross or anyone.
If you have no concept of the resumé and quality on the other side of the net from Stakusic Saturday, or couldn’t see that she was unable to play long before she finally retired, than I don’t know what to tell you.
Drawing an injured or diminished player, rather than Marie Bouzkova or Donna Vekic or someone else, IS pure dumb luck.
Yes, Raonic too. You’re making a great case for a reasoned/cold/cool approach to her situation, but I think that Montreal and Toronto, as home tournaments, should have extended the offer of an WC to them as injured but meritorious-once-bringing-home-glory-or-attention-or-bacon warriors, in what might have been a (probably last) chance at a fighting farewell on court, should they have taken it. Especially when Bouchard asked for it. I don’t think other tournaments have to do that.
I love your sense of dramatic narrative. But your logic makes no sense!
It’s a business. So decisions are made on a “cold, reasoned approach basis”. Not a sentimental one.
I mean, Wimbledon wouldn’t even do this what you suggest for Andy Murray, or Basel for Roger Federer, when the time comes, if they had no intention of playing.
In fact, many would consider that condescending, like giving a broken dog one final little scrap.
Also – the fact that you did that might make some people (who don’t know any better, which is most of the casual fans and event goers) buy tickets.
On false pretences.
And that would leave the tournaments open to criticism. Rightly so.
But don’t worry. Bouchard is expected in Toronto, with all of her outfits, to do … whatever she’ll be doing. 😛
“I mean, Wimbledon wouldn’t even do this what you suggest for Andy Murray, or Basel for Roger Federer, when the time comes, if they had no intention of playing.” Beg to differ, and in logical terms. WCs are offered based on a request from a player, AFAIK. If they asked for it, it’s because they intended initially (at the time of request) to play. If they don’t finally show up, it’s normally because their health doesn’t allow them to play. Those issues, promises based on health, are simply not cut and dry – i.e. clear. As to the tournaments letting themselves open to criticism, I’m sure they’ve grown a thick skin about it, e.g. people in Montreal seem to remember clearly at least two years when the final posters contained Serena, with no Serenas around. So, when Montreal and Toronto sportive powers-to-be hear in their respective Circi Maximi moans from injured gladiators, they should accede, for without those glories of yesteryear they themselves would not have but dust in their hands. For the interested parties, read the Waugh novel, as it has the most amazing final many of its readers know.
Thanks for letting me know how tennis works. I had NO idea!
But no, in Bouchard’s case, that wouldn’t be an accurate take. It’s the “AFAIK” part that gets people, in the end.
And Serena and Bouchard is not a comparable.
Just IMO, Bouchard would have deserved this more than Zhao or Sebov.
How’s that?
Also – that would assume she was prepared to play. Which obviously is not the case.
I’m talking about cumulative merit, not latest moment. Easy. Fed Cup: Bouchard is 13-4, Zhao 3-3, Sebov 4-2. GS: Bouchard has a final and 2 SFs, Zhao and Sebov have never played Main Draws. Now, it’s true that Bouchard was not prepared to play. But give the WC to her (at least in the Qs) and be prepared to replace her if she does not show up.
So … you wanted them to give Bouchard a … “ceremonial” wild card based on “cumulative merit”, for a tournament she had no intention of playing?
They’re not going to give her a wild card into the … qualifying. At her home event. I mean, you just debunked that notion with your recitation of her accomplishments.
(Also, there are many criteria for hanging out wild cards. And “recent form” is often a significant one).
Fed Cup, probably not so much.
I mean, I’m in D.C. and the tournament gave her a wild card. Her photo is even on the plastic commemorative cups. And she hasn’t even told her fans she won’t be here. Third wild card she’s been given this spring and summer that she didn’t make the date for. So you wanted to make that four, I suppose.
Might as well give one to Raonic, while they’re at it!!!