LONDON — For many tennis players, stepping onto the court for their Grand Slam debut against the world No. 1 in a grand arena would be a daunting challenge—especially when that opponent is Aryna Sabalenka on Wimbledon’s illustrious No. 1 Court.
However, 24-year-old Carson Branstine sees this as an exhilarating opportunity. A dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada—born in California and repping Canada, thanks to her mother’s heritage—Branstine recently helped Texas A&M secure victory in the 2024 NCAA championship. Although she’s sitting just outside the top 200 in rankings, her determination shone through as she clinched three qualifying matches to earn her spot at the All England Club.
“I’m not a novice. This is my career, too. We’re both competing in the same tournament! It’s thrilling and I cherish this moment,” Branstine expressed. “You never know how things will unfold, and I find that exciting. I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is truly remarkable!”
Branstine is becoming accustomed to the challenge of tackling top seeds: she’s set to face the top-ranked player for the third time in as many tournaments this month. She previously triumphed over Liudmila Samsonova at a grass-court event in the Netherlands and kicked off her Wimbledon qualifying journey with a win against Loïs Boisson, who had recently made headlines for her unexpected run to the French Open semifinals.
“I approach it with a mindset of ‘Why not?’ Tennis is unpredictable; there are countless elements at play beyond just hitting the ball. It’s Wimbledon! First-round matches can be tighter than expected,” Branstine noted. “Anything can happen on Monday. Who knows? Perhaps fate will align, and I’ll play the best tennis of my life!”
Branstine attributes her recent successes to her powerful serve and unwavering confidence.
When asked about Branstine, Sabalenka—a three-time Grand Slam champion and recent runner-up to Coco Gauff at Roland-Garros—admitted that her looks stood out more than her playing style.
“I know she’s incredibly beautiful,” Sabalenka laughed. “I saw her interview on social media recently and thought, ‘Wow, this girl is stunning.’ That’s all I know for now!”
Determined to be prepared, Sabalenka plans to strategize with her team and review past matches of Branstine to get a better sense of her game.
“Facing someone unfamiliar can be challenging,” Sabalenka acknowledged, especially since she missed last year’s tournament due to a shoulder injury. “I intend to be ready for her style of play.”
As a child attending the tournament in Indian Wells, Branstine often envisioned reaching such a monumental stage.
“You look at those magnificent courts and dream, ‘What if I could be there one day?’ And now, that dream is coming true,” she reflected. “No matter the outcome, I’ll always cherish this experience: playing against the world No. 1 on Court 1 at Wimbledon is a surreal achievement. I’m here to savor every moment and play each point with intent. After all, anything can happen!”
