Court drama
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Player not distracted by impending trial against tournament host
A professional tennis player found herself in an unusual situation last week when she arrived at the US Open to play her opening match '“ a tournament she is currently suing.
Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard filed a suit against the US Open and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) in October last year after injuring herself following a mixed-doubles win.
Bouchard suffered a concussion after she slipped and fell in the locker room, an incident that forced her to withdraw from the tournament and miss subsequent events.
The suit alleged that she had entered a treatment room and tripped on a 'slippery, foreign and dangerous substance' in a room that was left open and unattended, a claim disputed by the USTA.
USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier did not comment on the 'substance' of the litigation but said it was 'truly unfortunate that a year after her accident, Genie's focus is on matters other than playing to her best ability'.
However, speaking about the impending trial Bouchard said 'it's really not something I think about much at all. I have people, lawyers, working on that side of it.'
Widmaier added that the USTA 'has remained ready, willing and able to bring the litigation to a conclusion as expeditiously as is possible, whether through settlement discussions or a fully litigated process.'
Bouchard lost her first round match at this year's tournament in three sets to Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.
It remains to be seen whether she will be entering the law court any time soon.