LONDON | As she sat down in the media-reserved area in Roehampton, the site of Wimbledon’s ‘qualifiers’, Carol Zhao still struggled to describe the feelings that filled her. At 28, the age at which some players are considering retirement, the Canadian finally enjoyed her first qualification for a Grand Slam tournament.
“I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on! featured the stubborn Ontarian in the Journal. There are so many emotions that populate me.
It’s because Zhao – who’s also a singer – didn’t take the typical path of a tennis player. Rather than make the transition to the pros at a very young age, she chose to join the NCAA collegiate circuit, where she excelled. And in her professional debut, she quickly reached No. 131 in the world, which is her highest ranking to date. She is currently 166.
But there was a shoulder injury that kept the petite 1.75 meter tall player off the field for a year and a half. Then the COVID-19 slowed his progress on the WTA chessboard.
A dream come true
She had tried her luck at the Grand Slam several times in recent years. But each time she was shown the exit door before reaching her final destination.
So “absolutely” that qualifying for Wimbledon is a dream come true, Zhao, who spends most of his time developing on the ITF circuit, smiled in the WTA antechamber.
“Basically, this is only my third real year on the racetrack,” she emphasized. But the older I get, the more I realize that there are many players who deserve their place at these big tables. That makes it even more special.”
Finally the All England Club
What is also special is that in Wimbledon the qualification does not take place in the All England Club. They are instead played at the Roehampton Tennis Centre, about 10 minutes’ drive from the most legendary tennis court.
On Thursday, Zhao played her decisive third-round match against America’s Coco Vandeweghe (which she won 7-6 (4) 6-4) in front of about ten people sitting directly on the grass . who ate a sandwich and drank a coke.
Canada’s Carol Zhao is playing her third Wimbledon qualifier in Roehampton on Thursday. Photo Jessica Lapinski
From Monday, the Canadian will enter the prestigious All England Club through the front door. “When you win here in qualifying, you really feel like you’re changing levels,” she remarked. So I’m really looking forward to having this experience.
To mark his qualification, the organizers presented him with a small trophy. Of course, it would be very ambitious for Zhao to aim for the big ornament at the end of the two weeks. But she affirms: Even if she realized a dream on Thursday, “the work has only just begun”.