Carol Zhao

Carol Zhao Bio

Carol Zhao (born June 20, 1995) is a Chinese-Canadian tennis player who has competed on the WTA Tour, ITF Circuit, and in junior Grand Slams. Born in Chongqing, China, she moved with her family to Canada at the age of seven and settled in Richmond Hill, Ontario, where she developed into one of Canada’s most promising female players. She reached a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 131 on June 25, 2018, and held the position of Canada’s top-ranked singles player for a stretch that summer. She plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand and stands 1.68 meters tall.

Zhao gained early international recognition by winning the 2013 Australian Open junior doubles title and earned a career-best junior ranking of No. 9 in January 2013. She is also a two-time NCAA standout, having helped Stanford University win the 2016 NCAA team championship and finishing as the 2015 NCAA singles runner-up. Since turning professional in 2016, she has combined singles and doubles success on the ITF Circuit while continuing to pursue breakthroughs on the WTA Tour.

Early Life and Background

Carol Zhao was born in Chongqing, China, to parents Ping and Lily Zhao. She began playing tennis at the age of five, encouraged by a grade school teacher who recognized her athletic potential. Her early years in China laid the foundation for a competitive approach to the sport, and her family’s support quickly became central to her development.

When Zhao was seven, she and her family emigrated to Canada and settled in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The move opened new doors for her training, and she continued to refine her game in the Canadian system. In September 2010, at age fifteen, she relocated to Montreal to join the National Training Centre, where she remained until August 2013. This period of intensive training marked a turning point, exposing her to higher-level coaching and competition.

Path to Tennis

Zhao’s junior career quickly established her as one of Canada’s top prospects. In July 2010, she won three straight junior singles titles at events in Edmonton, Vancouver, and Manitoba, along with three doubles titles during the same stretch. By early 2012, she was regularly reaching finals at G1-level junior events, including a runner-up finish to fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard and another final against Françoise Abanda.

In 2013, Zhao won the Australian Open junior doubles title with partner Ana Konjuh, a breakthrough that confirmed her ability on the biggest junior stages. That same year, she made her first WTA Tour main draw at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, where she defeated Irina-Camelia Begu in qualifying before falling to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. After committing to Stanford University, she balanced collegiate competition with select professional events, winning her first professional doubles title in Granby in July 2013.

Carol Zhao Career

Early Career (2013–2015)

While competing for Stanford, Zhao steadily built her professional resume alongside her college schedule. In 2014, she qualified for her second WTA Tour main draw at the Stanford Classic and earned her first tour-level win when Yanina Wickmayer retired during their opening-round match. The following year, she reached the NCAA singles final as runner-up in 2015 and contributed to Stanford’s team success.

Her 2015 summer also included a gold medal at the Pan American Games in Toronto, where she partnered with Gabriela Dabrowski to win the doubles title. That same year, she posted semifinal and quarterfinal results at multiple $25,000 ITF events and earned wildcards into the Rogers Cup and the Stanford Classic. These results helped her climb the rankings and gain valuable experience against top-100 opponents.

WTA Tour Breakthrough (2016–2018)

After turning professional in June 2016, Zhao focused on the ITF Circuit while occasionally entering WTA events. In late 2017, she captured her first professional singles title at the $25,000 event in Nanao, Japan, defeating Junri Namigata in the final. Just weeks later, she won a much bigger title at the $100,000 Shenzhen Longhua Open, beating Liu Fangzhou to claim her second singles trophy.

Her consistent results pushed her to a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 131 on June 25, 2018, and she briefly held the No. 1 position among Canadian women that summer. She also partnered with Bianca Andreescu to win a doubles title at the $60,000 event in Saguenay in 2017, demonstrating her versatility in both disciplines.

Return to Tour (2023–2024)

After a quieter stretch on the tour, Zhao returned to prominence in 2023 with her first WTA Tour win of the year at the Copa Colsanitas in Colombia. She followed that with a main-draw run at the Rosmalen Open, where she defeated Ysaline Bonaventure on grass for her first tour-level grass-court win. In July 2023, she qualified for Wimbledon on her ninth attempt, marking her Grand Slam main-draw debut before falling in the first round to Tamara Korpatsch.

In 2024, Zhao qualified for the Korea Open, a newly upgraded WTA 500 event, and advanced to the second round with a win over Back Da-yeon before losing to fourth seed Diana Shnaider. Earlier that season, she had also qualified for the Monterrey Open main draw. These appearances reflected her continued competitiveness at the WTA level.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among Zhao’s signature achievements are her 2013 Australian Open junior doubles title, her 2015 Pan American Games doubles gold medal with Gabriela Dabrowski, and her career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 131 in June 2018. Her 2016 NCAA team championship with Stanford and her 2015 NCAA singles runner-up finish remain defining collegiate accomplishments. She also represented Canada in Fed Cup competition, posting a 3–3 win-loss record.

Carol Zhao Career Wins

Carol Zhao has built a balanced career across singles and doubles, compiling a verified 4 ITF singles titles and 6 ITF doubles titles along with multiple finals appearances at each level. Her breakthrough came in late 2017, when she captured back-to-back singles trophies in Nanao and Shenzhen. In doubles, she has partnered with players such as Bianca Andreescu, Gabriela Dabrowski, Jessica Moore, and Ellen Perez to claim titles at events ranging from $15,000 to $100,000.

ITF and Tour Highlights

Her most recent major milestones include a Grand Slam main-draw debut at Wimbledon in 2023 and a second-round appearance at the 2024 Korea Open. Earlier in her career, she won the doubles title at the 2013 Australian Open junior event and earned a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in doubles.

Carol Zhao Family

Family Background and Tennis Lineage

Carol Zhao was born to Ping and Lily Zhao in Chongqing, China. Her parents supported her early introduction to tennis, and her grade school teacher played a key role in encouraging her to pursue the sport. The family later emigrated to Canada, where they settled in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and continue to be part of her support system.

Personal Life

Zhao currently resides in Richmond Hill, Ontario, where she grew up after moving from China. She has kept her personal life largely private, with no public information available regarding a spouse or children. Her Chinese name, Zhao Yiyu, reflects her heritage and remains an important part of her cultural identity.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season for Carol Zhao has been focused on rebuilding momentum on the ITF and WTA circuits. She entered the 2025 US Open qualifying rounds, where she reached the second round of qualifying. With a current WTA singles ranking in the 400s, she continues to compete in qualifying draws and select main-draw events, working to climb back toward the top 200.

Her early-season results reflect steady form, with qualifying appearances at multiple WTA events and consistent ITF-level match wins. As a veteran with experience on all surfaces, Zhao brings tactical variety and doubles expertise to her singles campaign. Her partnership play also remains a strength, allowing her to compete for titles while sharpening her singles game.

Looking ahead, Zhao’s goals for the remainder of 2025 include qualifying for additional Grand Slam main draws and pushing her ranking back toward her career-high territory. With her proven track record in qualifying events and her comfort on both hard courts and grass, she remains a competitive presence in the Canadian and international tennis landscape.