Former Wimbledon finalist Genie Bouchard experienced one of the most impressive improvement arcs in pro pickleball in 2025.

Starting out as a newcomer who initially struggled with the common transition issues tennis players face in pickleball, Bouchard has rapidly elevated her game. She has now reached two women’s singles finals and continues to show steady growth and refinement on the court.

Bouchard made her first finals appearance at the Pickleball Central Sacramento Vintage Open. Competing with a wooden paddle proved to be a valuable catalyst for her development, sharpening her touch, control, and overall pickleball instincts.

“It’s just been a long journey of trying to improve at pickleball. I think playing with a wooden paddle spurred something in my game because after that tournament I made another finals in Vegas, so it kind of made me believe that I could do it. I also liked the feel of the wooden paddle. It was softer and it reminded me of playing with natural gut strings in tennis, which I used to play with a lot when I was a kid. It almost felt nostalgic for me,” she said.

“Playing with a wooden paddle really helped me feel the ball better, and I felt like I could control where my ball was going, so then I obviously played better and had more confidence.”

When Bouchard first began competing at a high level in pickleball, she played with the Versix Vector signature paddle. In April 2025, however, she signed with Proton and made the switch to the Project Flamingo.

Bouchard has since credited finding the right paddle as a major turning point, calling it a significant game changer in her continued rise.

“I think the Proton paddles are great. It has some good power, and I add a little bit of lead tape to it as well. It has a nice mix of feel and power,” praised Bouchard. “Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing out there all the time, so just having that feel is really important for me.”

Beyond her equipment changes, Bouchard has also focused on improving her footwork at the kitchen line.

“I’m learning to move my feet more. Sometimes I get there and I feel a bit stuck. I’m not sure what to do, or I’m trying to take it out of the air, and then if it comes deep, I don’t back up enough. Learning to have the constant movement back and forth has really helped me hit the ball at the right spot more consistently instead of reaching after the ball,” she explained. “But that makes it physically more work, so I need to keep putting in the work at the gym too.”

Away from the court, Bouchard also dedicates significant time to strength training, further enhancing her athleticism and on-court performance.

“Working out is huge for me. It’s my favorite thing,” she mentioned. “I like feeling strong in my legs, and when I feel strong, I feel like I can do anything out there on the court.”

So what is Bouchard aiming to accomplish in 2026?

“I want to try and get some golds,” she insisted.

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