Eugenie Bouchard points grovelling apology after ‘doping’ dig at rival

Eugenie Bouchard has apologised to Dayana Yastremska after taking a rare dig on the Ukrainian following her first-round win within the Madrid Open. The Canadian appeared to name her opponent out over her previous doping ban in 2021, which had then been lifted in June of that 12 months.

Bouchard overcame Yastremska within the first-round on Wednesday after coming from a set right down to win 6-7(6) 6-2 6-2. However, it was her actions after the match that have been essentially the most eye-catching as she known as out her opponent over a earlier doping suspension in Twitter publish.

Alongside a photograph of herself fist pumping on the court docket, Bouchard wrote: “There’s something about playing dopers in Madrid…”

It appeared a reference to the earlier doping ban Yastremska was given at first of 2021. However, the Ukrainian was cleared simply six months later and resumed competing on the tour in June of that 12 months. The ITF acknowledged that they “accepted Ms. Yastremska’s account of how the mesterolone entered her system and determined that she bore no fault or negligence for the violation.”

Bouchard was criticised for her actions and the Canadian has now supplied an apology and has deleted the unique tweet.

“I want to apologize for my tweet yesterday,” she wrote on Twitter. “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 the court.”

Bouchard’s unique tweet is also considered as taking a dig towards former world No 1 Maria Sharapova. The Russian was banned after testing optimistic for meldonium in 2016, and confronted and misplaced to Bouchard within the Madrid Open shortly after her return.

“She’s a cheater and so to me. I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again,” Bouchard said on Sharapova at the time. “It’s so unfair to all the other players who do it the right way and are true.

“So, I think from the WTA it sends the wrong message to young kids— ‘cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms’. I don’t think that’s right and [she’s] definitely not someone I can say I look up to anymore because that’s definitely ruined it for me a little bit.”

Bouchard’s run on the Madrid Open didn’t final lengthy as she was eradicated in straight units by Martina Trevisan within the second spherical.