Who would have guessed that Maria Sharapova’s return from a 15-month suspension would be just what Genie Bouchard needed to get herself back into the limelight? Bouchard’s faded from the public eye (at least in the non-tennis world) since her Twitter date publicity stunt a few months ago, but all attention is back on her thanks to these extreme anti-doper/Sharapova views (via TSN):
“She is a cheater and 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.”
Serious fighting words from Bouchard, but she backed up her trash talk today at the Madrid Open as she defeated Sharapova in three sets (7-5, 2-6, 6-4). The post-match handshake was expectedly ice cold:
#Bouchard #Sharapova handshake in Madrid. #MMOpen pic.twitter.com/y0PMixqGI3
— Nick Leone (@nickyleonski91) May 8, 2017
And the barbs not-so-low-key continued when she spoke to media:
Bouchard."She said "Well played ".I think she's been playing really well in her so-called comeback — if you want to call it that."
— René Denfeld (@Renestance) May 8, 2017
Bouchard added she got lots of texts/support from people in the tennis world: "So I wanted to do it for myself, but also all these people."
— René Denfeld (@Renestance) May 8, 2017
Bouchard’s two cents on Sharapova are straight trash, but this is the perfect tennis feud to get casual fans jacked up for the French Open.
