The USTA has responded to Eugenie Bouchard over her fall in the locker room that took place back during the US Open. They responded in a 16-page response that they deny any wrongdoing arguing that “Bouchard was experienced and well-versed in the procedures and protocols of the women’s tour, both in the United States and internationally, and knew or should have known the procedures and protocols as they related to the operation of the physiotherapy room adjacent to the women’s locker room at the National Tennis Center and the attended rooms.”
The Backstory
Bouchard’s fall took place the night after Bouchard’s third round win over Dominika Cibulkova and her mixed doubles match with Nick Kyrgios. The fall caused the Canadian to sustain a concussion which then forced her to withdraw from the women’s singles draw as well as both doubles. She was slated to play eventual US Open runner-up Roberta Vinci in the fourth round but arrived on the grounds walking slowly with sunglasses on.
The Canadian decided to sue the USTA over the fall back in mid-October. In her lawsuit, Bouchard said that a “slippery, foreign, and dangerous” substance caused her fall getting out of the ice bath. Also in the lawsuit, Bouchard claimed that the USTA was negligent and should have known about the substance and seeks unspecified damages.
Bouchard’s last match was in Wuhan where the concussion symptoms were still showing as she retired down a set and on-serve in the second against Andrea Petkovic. She retired from events tournaments before Wuhan and as well as a tournament in Hong Kong after Wuhan.
The USTA’s Response
The United States Tennis Association is demanding a trial by jury which is something Bouchard called for as well. In their response, they said that the room "is never dark; even when the lights are turned off 'twilight' lighting remains and partially illuminates the room". The conditions which Bouchard mentioned were “open and obvious” according to the statement as well.
The USTA also brought up Bouchard’s social media presence since she’s very active on Instagram and Twitter. They state her claims of “on-going and permanent physical injuries and sequelae to date" are inconsistent with her "own admissions in various forms of social media and public commentary."