Eugenie Bouchard says she is ‘leaving’ X after fans cook up feud between her and world’s richest tennis star worth $4bn

EUGENIE BOUCHARD has threatened to quit X after fans claimed she criticised Jessica Pegula.

The Canadian was forced to defend a tweet she wrote about Pegula after it was misinterpreted by fans.

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Pegula, who is the daughter of billionaire Terry Pegula, reached the final of the US Open but lost to Aryna Sabalenka.

A fan praised her accomplishment and defended the 30-year-old from those criticising her background, suggesting money cannot buy talent and hard work.

Bouchard responded, adding: "Money can’t buy a US Open final lol."

Fans thought the 2014 Wimbledon runner-up was throwing shade at Pegula, forcing Bouchard to explain she was actually praising the star.

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Bouchard said: "I’m complimenting her, she achieved a grand slam final because of hard work, dedication, etc. not because of money.

"You can’t buy your way through the US Open draw. She’s amazing. Leaving this app 🙄"

Pegula, 30, reached the first Grand Slam final of her career at Flushing Meadows and is now world No3 - her highest ever ranking.

And although she has raked in almost £11million in prize money and comes from wealth, she admitted she would trade it all in to win Wimbledon.

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Pegula is determined to shake off the “world’s richest tennis player” nickname and replace it with "Wimbledon champion", and she hit back at critics by suggesting it doesn't "matter how much money you have".

However, Pegula - who also launched her skincare brand Ready24 - has been keen to embrace her family’s influence, while still creating her own success.

She also wants to make mum Kim - who suffered a cardiac arrest in 2022 - proud, saying she sacrificed a lot for her.

Kim was very supportive of Pegula throughout her childhood and would brainstorm ideas on how she could get better while her father Terry built up his business empire.

Pegula Snr made his fortune from natural gas development.

He first worked as a petroleum engineer for Getty Oil, before setting up his own company called East Resources in 1983 with a $6,000 loan from his family, drilling for oil and then selling off the business in two parts for a combined $5.2bn.

Pegula Snr also owns NFL side Buffalo Bills, beating Donald Trump to buying the team for $1.2bn ten years ago.

Bouchard, 30, also has an interesting life away from the court and has combined her tennis career with modelling in recent years.

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But injuries have hit her badly and Bouchard is now ranked 570th in the world, having last featured at a Grand Slam event in the US Open qualifiers in August 2023.

The Canadian also plays on the newly-formed pickleball circuit.