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'Have some class': Eugenie Bouchard savaged over Serena Williams tweet

Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard incurred the wrath of Serena Williams’ considerable fan-base, suggesting she could have won the Canadian Open herself after Williams retired from the final.

Williams pulled out of the Rogers Cup final against Bouchard’s fellow Canadian star Bianca Andreescu after just four games.

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The official reason given for the retirement was an upper back injury, while Williams herself could be heard on the umpires microphone complaining of back spasms.

The 19-year-old Andreescu offered a sporting gesture for Williams after her retirement, but it was Bouchard’s tweet that drew the ire of Williams’s fans.

Eugenie Bouchard sparked a backlash from Serena Williams fans on Twitter, after suggesting she would have won the Canadian Open.
Eugenie Bouchard copped a backlash from Serena Fans on Twitter, after making light of the latter's injury-forced withdrawal from the Canadian Open final. Pictures: Getty Images

Bouchard, who was knocked out of the tournament in the first round by Andreescu, tweeted “Sooooo basically I coulda won the Rogers cup,” accompanied by some crying-laughing emojis.

Suffice it to say, this did not go down well with Williams’ supporters, who labelled the Canadian ‘self-centred’.

Bouchard later had to post again, simply saying ‘kidding’, in an attempt to defuse any tension that still existed between her and fans of Williams.

The injury-enforced retirement was a bitter pill to swallow for Williams, whose last tournament victory was her incredible run at the 2017 Australian Open, which she won despite being several weeks pregnant.

Emotional Williams retires from Canadian final

Serena Williams’ emotional mid-match retirement in the Rogers Cup final has sparked a mixed reaction in the tennis community.

Serena's first US Open tune-up ended in dramatic fashion on Sunday, retiring with a back injury while trailing Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu 3-1 in the first set.

Williams, who hopes to chase a record-equalling 24th career grand slam title at the US Open, seemed fine on court but suddenly sat crying in her chair before deciding to retire 19 minutes into the match with a back injury.

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Serena then broke down in tears again during her runner-up speech.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do it today. I tried but I just couldn't do it," a tearful Williams, who struggled to get the words out, told the crowd.

"It's been a tough year but we'll keep going."