Genie Bouchard’s latest pickleball match didn’t end with the usual postgame niceties. Instead, the former tennis standout let the moment speak for itself after things got heated against Maria Ford.
Bouchard, who moved into pickleball after retiring from tennis, is currently ranked No. 87 in the world. Her résumé in the sport includes three finals and four semifinals, and at 32, she still has time to keep pushing for that first singles title. But in this match, patience appeared to run out.
According to Fox News, Bouchard had seen enough of Ford yelling “c’mon” after random points. A clip showed the Canadian ignoring Ford after the match and refusing to shake hands. The moment quickly spread online after The Kitchen Pickleball posted the video, which has drawn nearly 500K views.
The reaction was immediate, and fans split over whether Ford crossed a line or Bouchard overreacted. “Screaming and flexing in Pickleball, the jokes write themselves,” one said.
“Good for Genie, Maria was so obnoxious,” another wrote. “The ‘Ford’ style.
Her husband also has colorful personality,” a third added. “This is really bad behavior and I do not know why it is tolerated in any sport,” one commented.
“It is what it is. Ford is obnoxious and Genie has kind of made herself a ghost in pickleball recently,” a fifth added.
Tennis players are used to hearing plenty of noise when shots land and points swing, but Bouchard seemed to feel a line had been crossed here. She remains in search of her first singles championship, even as moments like this keep putting her in the middle of unexpected drama.