Belinda Bencic vs Eugenie Bouchard Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Bencic to end Bouchard's career in Montreal

Bouchard reached a career-high ranking of No. 5 in 2014 following a stellar season in which she made the final of Wimbledon, along with two further major semi-finals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. However, constant injuries disrupted her career and she made the decision earlier this year to retire after the Canada Open in Montreal. Most people expected that retirement to already be in place, but Bouchard prolonged her career with a three-set win in her opening round over Emiliana Arango.

Now, Bouchard must confront Bencic, who announced herself on tour with a stunning Canada Open title triumph all the way back in 2015, where she beat the likes of Ana Ivanovic, Serena Williams and Simona Halep back-to-back-to-back to become the tournament's youngest ever champion at 18 years of age. Bencic now returns to Canada a decade later as a mother and following a tremendous run to the Wimbledon semi-finals last month that catapulted her back into the top 20. Bouchard had a great draw in her opener, but this will prove too much - Bencic to win this with minimal fuss.

Bencic has won all three previous meetings between the pair - including a three-set triumph in Toronto in 2015 when she went on to win the title.

It's been a phenomenal return to tennis for Bencic, who comes into this contest with a 26-11 record on the season and back in the top 20 at No. 17 in the world after finishing 2024 outside the top 900.

Returning to the tour following the birth of her first child, Bencic has been in sensational form, winning the WTA 500 title in Abu Dhabi, reaching the quarter-finals of Indian Wells and the R16 in Madrid before injury forced her to miss Roland Garros.

However, it didn't take long for Bencic to get back to her best tennis, beating Mirra Andreeva on her way to the Wimbledon semi-finals last month, where she fell to eventual champion Iga Swiatek.

Bencic has fond memories of Canada and has registered a 14-3 record at the tournament, winning the title as an 18-year-old prodigy in 2015 before two other quarter-final appearances in 2022 and 2023.

Obviously not much form to go by for Bouchard, who has barely played over the last couple of years and has been planning this retirement for a while.

The Canadian was a superb player in her day, hitting a career-high ranking of No. 5 and challenging for Grand Slams during the 2014 season when she made the final of Wimbledon and semis at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

Struck down by injuries over the last decade, Bouchard posted her first tour-level win in two years in her opening round on Monday, taking out Emiliana Arango 6-4 2-6 6-2.

Even at her peak, Bouchard always struggled playing under the weight of expectation and pressure in Canada, only once making it past the second round in nine previous main draw appearances.