Carol Zhao, a 31-year-old tennis player from Richmond Hill, Ont., has been granted a main-draw wild card for the upcoming National Bank Open. This will mark her final appearance at the tournament, as she previously announced that the 2026 season would be her last on the WTA Tour. Zhao turned professional in 2016.
Tennis Canada confirmed on Sunday that Zhao and fellow Richmond Hill native Ariana Arseneault received the final two women’s singles wild cards. The tournament is scheduled to begin next Saturday at Sobeys Stadium. These two additions complete the roster of main-draw wild-card recipients, which also includes other notable players.
Wild Card Recipients and Tournament Details
The list of main-draw wild-card recipients for the National Bank Open is extensive, featuring several prominent names in tennis. Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams is among those who received a wild card. Other Canadian players joining Zhao and Arseneault include Bianca Andreescu, Kayla Cross, Katherine Sebov, Cadence Brace, and Rebecca Marino.
Noelle van Lottum, head of women’s tennis at Tennis Canada, expressed enthusiasm for the selections. She noted that Ariana Arseneault’s game is progressing positively, positioning her to compete at high levels. Van Lottum also highlighted Carol Zhao’s long-standing respected presence in Canadian tennis, stating that the organization is pleased to offer her a final opportunity to play in her home tournament.
In addition to the singles wild cards, Tennis Canada also allocated doubles wild cards. These were awarded to the teams of Andreescu and Cross, as well as sisters Leylah and Bianca Fernandez from Laval, Que.
The women’s draw of the National Bank Open is scheduled to run from August 1-13. One notable absence from this year’s tournament will be Canadian phenom Victoria Mboko, who won last year’s National Bank Open title in Montreal. She will miss the event due to a knee injury.
Kayla Cross Secures Her Spot
Kayla Cross, a 21-year-old from London, earned her wild-card berth for the National Bank Open through her performance at the Granby National Bank Championships. She secured her spot with a semifinal victory over American Elizabeth Mandlik, winning 2-1 (5-7, 7-6 (9), 6-2). Cross then went on to win the tournament, defeating Japan’s Sara Saito in straight sets.
Cross expressed her excitement about playing in Canada’s largest tennis tournament, stating she is looking forward to returning to Toronto. She mentioned that she grew up watching the tournament and dreamed of playing in it. Her wild card was the third to be announced, following those granted to Venus Williams and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 National Bank Open and U.S. Open champion.
Beyond the tennis courts, other sports news includes London Knights prospect Cooper McAslan, a 17-year-old from Bowmanville. He was named to Hockey Canada’s 27-player national men’s summer under-18 team training camp roster. The camp is set to open on Monday in Edmonton. McAslan had a strong season with the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s London Nationals, recording eight goals and 37 points in 38 games. He also contributed two assists in four games with the Knights and played in four of the team’s five playoff games against Sault Ste. Marie. The national under-18 team, coached by North Bay Battalion coach Ryan Oulahen, aims to improve on its third-place finish from last year. Their tournament will take place from August 3-8 in Edmonton.
In football, the undefeated London Jr. Mustangs are preparing to face the Cumberland Panthers in the Ontario Summer Football League U16 AAA provincial final. This championship game will be held on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Western Alumni Stadium. Coached by Matt Snyder, the Jr. Mustangs completed their regular season with a 7-0 record. They advanced to the final after playoff victories against the Oakville Titans (28-7) and the Brampton Bulldogs (42-12). The Cumberland Panthers, also undefeated with a 9-0 record, secured their spot by defeating the Hamilton Jr. Tiger-Cats 24-6 in their semifinal match. Additionally, the U14 AA Jr. Mustangs will compete against the Peterborough Warriors in the Dan Grossi Cup title game on Friday at 8 p.m.
The London Majors baseball team is bolstering its roster for the latter part of the Canadian Baseball League season. The club has signed outfielder Jordan Lewis of Brampton and right-handed pitcher Daniel Orfaly of British Columbia. These signings were made ahead of Friday’s significant game against the Barrie Baycats at 7:05 p.m. at Labatt Park. Lewis, who is 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, had a batting average of .340 with 35 runs batted in and 44 stolen bases in 45 games during his graduate season at the University of Fort Lauderdale. Orfaly, a six-foot, 180-pounder, concluded his collegiate career with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, where he posted a 15-7 record with a 4.91 earned-run average over four seasons. In his final season, he maintained a 7.52 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate and walked only 22 batters over 52 2/3 innings. The Majors are also scheduled to play in Brantford on Saturday at 2 p.m. before returning home to face Hamilton on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
Source: theglobeandmail.com
