Carol Zhao Bio
Carol Zhao (born June 20, 1995) is a Chinese-Canadian tennis player who has competed on the WTA Tour, in Grand Slam main draws, and on the international junior circuit. She reached her highest WTA singles ranking of No. 131 in June 2018 and a career-high junior ranking of No. 9 on January 1, 2013. Zhao won the Australian Open junior doubles title in 2013 and later starred at Stanford University, where she helped the Cardinal win the 2016 NCAA team championship.
Zhao turned professional in June 2016 and has combined singles and doubles play throughout her career. She also represented Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games, where she captured a gold medal in doubles.
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 her grade school teacher, and quickly developed a passion for the sport. At the age of seven, she and her family emigrated to Canada and settled in Richmond Hill, Ontario, where she continued her early development.
As a junior, Zhao built a strong record in national and international age-group events, winning three consecutive junior singles titles in Edmonton, Vancouver, and Manitoba in 2010. In September 2010, she relocated to Montreal to train at the National Training Centre, where she remained until August 2013, sharpening her game against top competition.
Path to Professional Tennis
Zhao’s junior resume included semifinal and final appearances at prestigious ITF Grade 1 events, as well as a loss to Ashleigh Barty in the final of the G1 in Kuching in 2011. She competed regularly on the ITF junior circuit through 2012, reaching the second round of the junior French Open and the third round of the junior US Open.
In 2013, Zhao captured the Australian Open junior doubles title with Ana Konjuh and also 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. That same year, she won her first professional doubles title at the $25k event in Granby, signaling her readiness for the professional ranks.
Carol Zhao Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Between 2013 and 2015, Zhao balanced her early professional schedule with a move to Stanford University. She reached the quarterfinals at the 2014 Bank of the West Classic, earning her first WTA Tour main-draw win when Yanina Wickmayer retired in the second set. She also collected several doubles finals and titles at $25k Challenger events across North America.
In 2015, Zhao won doubles gold with Gabriela Dabrowski at the Pan American Games in Toronto and competed in main draws at the Rogers Cup and the Stanford Classic on wildcards. At Stanford, she blossomed into one of the top college players in the country.
Stanford and NCAA Career (2014–2016)
Zhao joined the Stanford Cardinal tennis team and compiled a 76–16 overall singles record during her college career. In 2015, she reached the NCAA singles final as runner-up, establishing herself as one of the premier college players in the United States.
In 2016, Zhao led Stanford to the NCAA team championship, capping her collegiate career with a national title. She also reached the doubles final of the $25k event in Daytona Beach with Sharon Fichman during this period.
WTA Tour Breakthrough (2016–2018)
After turning professional in June 2016, Zhao continued to build her ranking through ITF Circuit titles. In 2017, she won doubles titles in Petit-Bourg, Heraklion, and Granby, and captured her first professional singles title at the $25k event in Nanao, defeating Junri Namigata in the final. She followed that with a $100k singles title at the Shenzhen Open, defeating Liu Fangzhou.
On June 25, 2018, Zhao reached her career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 131 and held the position of Canada’s top singles player from June 11 to July 23, 2018.
Continued Professional Career (2019–2024)
In 2023, Zhao qualified for her first Grand Slam main draw at Wimbledon on her ninth attempt, falling in the first round to Tamara Korpatsch in three sets. She also reached the main draw at the Rosmalen Open on grass and the Guadalajara Open WTA 1000 event, recording a first-round win over Ysaline Bonaventure on grass.
In 2024, Zhao qualified for the Korea Open, a newly upgraded WTA 500 event, and defeated Back Da-yeon in the first round before losing to fourth seed Diana Shnaider. She has continued to compete on the ITF and WTA circuits, mixing qualifying runs with Challenger-level results.
Playing Style and Strengths
Zhao is known for her composure from the baseline and her ability to compete on a variety of surfaces, including grass and hard courts. Her doubles success reflects strong net instincts and tactical awareness, while her singles game is built on consistent groundstrokes and competitive returning.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Zhao’s career include her 2013 Australian Open junior doubles title, her 2015 Pan American Games doubles gold with Gabriela Dabrowski, and her first Grand Slam main-draw appearance at Wimbledon in 2023. Her career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 131 and Stanford’s 2016 NCAA team championship stand among her most significant accomplishments.
Carol Zhao Career Wins
Carol Zhao has built a steady collection of titles across the ITF Circuit in both singles and doubles, complemented by wins at WTA Tour-level events and Grand Slam qualifying draws. Her trophy haul includes multiple doubles titles at $25k and $60k Challenger events, and she has added WTA Tour match wins on hard and grass courts.
WTA Tour Highlights
Zhao has recorded WTA Tour main-draw wins at events including the 2014 Bank of the West Classic, the 2023 Copa Colsanitas, and the 2023 Rosmalen Open. She reached the second round at the latter on grass, marking her first WTA-level match win on that surface.
ITF and Challenger Highlights
On the ITF Circuit, Zhao has won singles titles at the $25k in Nanao (2017) and the $100k Shenzhen Open (2017), along with multiple doubles titles at events in Granby, Heraklion, Petit-Bourg, and Saguenay. She reached the doubles final at the $60k Challenger de Granby in 2017 and won that title with Ellen Perez.
| Series | Wins | Titles | Notable Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam main draws | 0 | 0 | Wimbledon 2023 first round |
| WTA Tour main draws | Multiple | 0 | Bank of the West, Copa Colsanitas, Rosmalen |
| ITF Singles | 2 | 2 | $25k Nanao, $100k Shenzhen |
| ITF Doubles | Multiple | 6 | Granby, Heraklion, Petit-Bourg, Saguenay |
Carol Zhao Family
Family Background and Tennis Origins
Carol Zhao was born to Ping and Lily Zhao in Chongqing, China. The family emigrated to Canada when she was seven, settling in Richmond Hill, Ontario, where her parents supported her early tennis development.
Personal Life
Zhao has been based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and has trained at the National Training Centre in Montreal. She has kept her personal and family life largely private throughout her professional career.
2025 Season Performance
As of the 2025 season, Carol Zhao continues to compete on the ITF Circuit and in WTA qualifying draws, building on her 2023 Wimbledon main-draw debut and her 2024 Korea Open appearance. She has been active in Challenger-level events and is targeting stronger results to climb back toward her career-high ranking of No. 131.
Her 2024 Korea Open run, which included a first-round win over Back Da-yeon, demonstrated that she remains competitive at the WTA 500 level. With a focus on qualifying for more main-draw events, Zhao’s early-season schedule is designed to accumulate ranking points and WTA Tour match experience.
Looking ahead, Zhao’s mix of grass-court comfort, doubles pedigree, and proven ability to qualify for high-level events positions her well to chase new career milestones during the 2025 season.