It wasn't a loud noise, it wasn't thunder, it was just a muffled sound. Someone fell in the locker room.
Maybe, some people will say, it’s just wrestling, what’s the fuss about?
Indeed, wrestling is just wrestling, and even wrestling on flat ground is not uncommon. There is no need to make a fuss out of a molehill, which seems to lack common sense.
But in the same way, if someone falls, it's just a fall. If you stand up and pat your butt, you'll be fine. However, if someone falls, you may get into trouble that you didn't expect.
For example, Bouchard.
Last year, after reaching the semi-finals of three consecutive Grand Slams, Bouchard undoubtedly became the most popular beauty of the year. She took over the title of "Sweetheart" and became a new and beautiful sight in the WTA. There were constant topics on and off the court. In the women's
The arena also set off a strong rise of youth storm.
However, with last year's US Open as a turning point, Bouchard fell into a vicious circle of slow decline. This year's spring season after the Australian Open was even more difficult to win. After consecutive first-round exits at Roland Garros and Wimbledon,
, lost a huge amount of points, and the world ranking plummeted.
From "genius girl" to "no such person", in just one year, Bouchard experienced a thrilling roller coaster ride between heaven and hell.
When the North American hard court season returned in the summer, Bouchard hired legendary Jimmy Connors as his coach.
Connors has a series of records that are difficult to surpass in his career. Although eight Grand Slam championship trophies are not the most, 109 singles championship trophies are an unattainable height. He is also the only one in history.
Men's players who have won more than 100 singles titles.
His stability and tenacity are undoubtedly a monument in professional tennis. The transformation he can bring to Bouchard is exactly what the beautiful girl needs most urgently now.
This move had an immediate effect——
Arriving in Flushing, Bouchard found her game again. After defeating Cibulkova in three hard-fought sets, she returned to the second week of the Grand Slam.
At the same time, she also won all first-round matches in women's doubles and mixed doubles, making her the only player to compete on three fronts at this year's US Open and still remain in the draw.
From the peak to the trough, and then back to form again, Bouchard's experience in just one year is legendary and rich enough.
Everything seemed to be finally back on track. At the post-match press conference, Bouchard rarely found his smile again.
However.
No one expected that when he returned to the locker room after the press conference and went to the physical therapy room to prepare for an ice bath, Bouchard accidentally slipped, hit his head, and became dizzy.
After initial testing by doctors, Bouchard experienced a mild concussion.
The situation is far worse than expected.
Under the doctor's advice, Bouchard reluctantly announced the launch of women's doubles and mixed doubles events. As for the singles competition, she awaited follow-up attention and evaluation.
From injuries and withdrawals to suspected colds and concussions caused by wrestling in the locker room, even though last year's US Open had witnessed a miracle, this year's US Open still easily refreshed the perception, because it was so bizarre and absurd that it made people doubt all of it.
The script is all about performance.
Are you sure, isn't this Woody Allen filming "Match Point 2"?
Compared with Bouchard, Gawain's accidental injury was nothing more than water, and the hot spots on social networks were transferred in the blink of an eye.
Those doubts, those complaints, those hatreds and other remarks disappeared in an instant. In the heated discussion that swept the screen, Gawain became a supporting role, and Bouchard won her attention again——
Although no one knows whether this is what Bouchard wanted.
Moreover, things have slipped further into the abyss.
After rest and adjustment, Bouchard underwent another concussion test, but it failed to pass the verification. The doctor suggested that Bouchard should withdraw from all competitions, including singles events.
Otherwise, if you appear in a game with a concussion, the worst case scenario may be sudden death.
Bouchard had no choice.
After withdrawing from all events at this year's US Open, Bouchard's final Grand Slam record of the year was set in the fourth round.
If this was all the nightmare was about, that would be fine.
In fact, this is just the beginning.
After the U.S. Open ended, Bouchard continued to suffer from dizziness during the Asian season and retired from tournaments. Finally, in October, he filed a lawsuit, formally suing the U.S. Tennis Association and the U.S. Open event organizers for negligence that led to his fall and injury.
, leaving immeasurable consequences.
After the two parties failed to attempt reconciliation, they entered a lengthy court trial. After a back-and-forth, the latest progress was not made until 2018——
Bouchard won the case.
The New York District Circuit Court ultimately determined that the USTA should bear 75% of the responsibility, and Bouchard himself should bear 25% of the responsibility. The specific injuries and compensation issues will be adjudicated later, and the compensation may be as high as millions of dollars.
For Bouchard, this is good news, but it is still difficult to be happy.
Since this US Open, Bouchard has never been able to regain his touch. Not only has he frequently retired from tournaments, but he has also suffered from serious injuries subsequently. He has been declining, falling, and falling into the abyss until the distant year of 2023.
, and still haven’t been able to find his own state.
Later, Bouchard's world ranking had fallen out of the top 300, and he applied for ranking protection due to injuries, but he was still struggling.
Maybe Bouchard can regain her form; maybe not, but in 2023, she is no longer young. From the age of 21 to 29, it is the most precious and important decade for professional players.
Just spent in struggle and repetition, youth can never be restored.
Looking back many years later, the 2015 US Open was indeed an event full of weirdness and absurdity.
Everything, at Bouchard's wrestling moment, reached its peak, darkness and chaos filled Flushing, and continued to spread on the seventh game day that followed——
From men's singles to women's singles, the competition for the top eight spots has begun.
Arthur Ashe Stadium, the first matinee, was a shocking upset, and it was also the biggest upset in the men's singles field.
Murray, out.
If Kei Nishikori loses and Nadal is eliminated, despite being shocked and stunned, there are more or less traces to follow. After all, both players are facing their own difficulties.
Moreover, Kei Nishikori missed two losses, and Nadal lost in a Grand Slam for the first time in his career after losing two sets first. They also tried their best in their positions and fought until the end.
So, when Murray loses, he is full of confusion.
Indeed, in the second round, when Murray faced Mannarino, he lost two sets and then fell back in three sets. This seemed to be a sign.
At that time, Murray said he had a cold and his throat was not feeling well, but after a few days of adjustment, he had basically recovered and won the third round with a straight score.
Entering the second week of the tournament, no one expected that this dark chaos would continue, and the first person to receive a wake-up call was the champion of this year’s US Open series!