Genie Bouchard's Description Of What It Was Like To Play Serena Williams For The First Time Is Very Cool

On today's Pardon My Take... GENIE BOUCHARD! The professional tennis player joined Mr. Cat and Mr. Commenter on today's show to discuss the ins and outs of tennis, her comeback from injury this year, what it was like to date a random fan, and much more. I was also presented with a chance to ask a question at the end of the interview, the route I took involved asking Genie about her interactions with the GOAT on the women's side - Serena Williams. Bouchard's perspective on how her first match against Serena went included a very cool perspective to hear about. The details are below...

Jake Marsh: So, we were talking about the GOAT earlier, right? You've played Serena Williams a handful of times in your career, and you beat her once. When you see her on the other side of the net, people cay it's cliche, "Oh, it's just another match." There's no way people actually think that. Is that what you thought when you played her? Because I have to imagine, it's just, "Oh my God, holy crap, that's Serena."

Mr. Cat: Great question.

Genie Bouchard: I mean, to be honest, for sure. The first time, especially when I played her, I looked across the net and I felt like I was looking at my TV screen because I'm so used to seeing her on TV, and I was like, "Wow." I mean, it's an amazing feeling to be able to get to that place and achieve that to be able to play against her. And so it's just kind of one of those like out of your body experiences, because you're just so used to seeing her on TV and now she's actually in front of you waiting for you to serve. I wasn't even thinking about winning at that point, I was like, "I just want to do a good enough serve that like, she's OK to return," you know what I mean?

Mr. Cat: Yeah.

Jake Marsh: She beat her 6-2, 6-1. 

Mr. Cat: Woah!

(Later in the interview)

Genie Bouchard: Well, you know, the first time I ever played Serena, I do remember calling my mom before and just saying, like, "I'm so scared I'm about to lose 6-0, 6-0." And then I went out there and I won the first set, and then I lost. That was another match. 

Jake Marsh: What was the handshake like?

Genie Bouchard: Oh, great. She's gracious. Yeah, but handshakes are a big thing in tennis.

How many times have you heard "It's just another game/match" in sports when there is an obvious storyline that indicates that the game/match is anything but ordinary? Plenty. But not here. Enough of the cliche answers! It was really cool to hear Genie Bouchard's perspective on what it was like to face off against Serena Williams for the first time in her career. There is no way to fully prep for a face-off against the GOAT.