Carol Zhao granted wild card for final National Bank Open appearance

Canadian tennis veteran Carol Zhao, 31, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, will retire after the 2026 season and has been given a main‑draw wild‑card for what will be her last National Bank Open. Tennis Canada announced the award on Sunday, along with a second wild‑card for fellow Richmond Hill player Ariana Arseneault. The tournament begins next Saturday at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.

The pair join other Canadian recipients such as Venus Williams, Bianca Andreescu, Kayla Cross, Katherine Sebov, Cadence Brace and Rebecca Marino. Noelle van Lottum, head of Women’s Tennis at Tennis Canada, said the organization was “delighted to award main‑draw wild cards to Ariana and Carol.” Doubles wild‑cards were also granted to the teams of Andreescu/Cross and sisters Leylah and Bianca Fernandez of Laval.

The decision allows Zhao to compete at her home event one final time before ending a decade‑long career on the WTA Tour.