NEW YORK -- Tennis pro Eugenie Bouchard has filed a lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association after she slipped and fell in a locker room during the US Open.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, Bouchard claims her fall was caused by a "slippery, foreign and dangerous substance'' on the floor of the physiotherapy room of the women's locker room.
Bouchard says she suffered a severe head injury, which caused her to withdraw from the tournament and several others.
Bouchard, once ranked as high as No. 5, contends her injuries "were caused solely by the reason of carelessness, negligence, wanton and willful disregard on the part of Defendant USTA." She claims the organization didn't keep the locker room in a "safe and suitable condition" because the organization failed to maintain, clean and repair the floor, which led to her fall.
Bouchard says her world ranking has dropped 13 spots since the incident and she believes it is likely to continue to drop. USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier says the organization does not comment on ongoing litigation.
Bouchard retired from her opening match against Andrea Petkovic at the China Open because of dizziness earlier this month. It was her first match since falling at the US Open last month and suffering a concussion.
Bouchard slipped in the locker room after a mixed-doubles match that followed her third-round win against Dominika Cibulkova, falling backward and landing on the back of her head. She was forced to withdraw from the US Open, as well as from subsequent tournaments in Tokyo and Wuhan.
"I thought I was physically ready, but unfortunately, the symptoms of my concussion came back," Bouchard said in a statement after the China withdrawal. "I hope to get well soon and look forward to returning next year."
After Bouchard retired from the match, Petkovic came around the net to check on her.
"I just asked her what happened, and she told me that she felt very dizzy," Petkovic said after the match. "Then I asked if it was the same, if it still was the concussion. She said it tends to come back when she gets physically very active."
It has been a difficult year for Canada's Bouchard following her breakout season in 2014, when she reached the Wimbledon final and the semis at the Australian Open and French Open. Her record in 2015, meanwhile, is just 12-17, and her ranking has fallen all the way from No. 5 to No. 38.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.