NEW YORK (CN) - Canadian tennis ace Eugenie Bouchard had to drop out of the U.S. Open after she slipped, fell and got a concussion in the ladies' locker room following a match, she says in Federal Court.
Bouchard and her partner Nick Kyrgios had just won their mixed-doubles match at the United States Tennis Association National Tennis Center in Queens on Sept. 4 when she entered the physiotherapy room in the women's locker room.
That's when the 21-year-old says she got a concussion after slipping on water from the ice baths that players use.
The 25th-ranked singles player was set to play two matches the next morning, but had to pull herself out of the running for the $3.3 million purse.
"At the time she was forced to withdraw, Ms. Bouchard was still in contention for the championships in women's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles," her 10-page lawsuit states. "She was the only female player still in contention in all three brackets."
She's played in the French and Australian Open and was once ranked the fifth-best player in the world. But being forced to drop out of the U.S. Open caused her rankings to fall at least 13 spots, she says, and contends her ranking will likely keep dropping.
Representatives with the tennis association declined to comment on the lawsuit Thursday afternoon.
Bouchard seeks unspecified damages for negligence, and is represented by Benedict Morelli with Morelli Ratner in Manhattan.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
Additional Reads
-
-
Top 8 today September 19, 2023
-
-
Top 8 today September 13, 2023