Richmond Hill's Carol Zhao receives National Bank Open main-draw wild card for final career appearance

Richmond Hill's Carol Zhao receives a main-draw wild card for her final National Bank Open appearance. Don't miss her last chance to compete at home!

By Liam Tremblay — 27 July 2026 — 4 min read

Carol Zhao, a 31-year-old tennis player from Richmond Hill, Ont., has been granted a main-draw wild card for her final National Bank Open appearance. Earlier this year, Zhao confirmed that the 2026 season would mark her last on the WTA Tour, having turned professional in 2016. This wild card provides her with an opportunity to compete in her home tournament one final time.

Tennis Canada announced the wild card on Sunday, also confirming that fellow Richmond Hill native Ariana Arseneault received one of the final two women’s singles wild cards for the tournament. The event is scheduled to begin next Saturday at Sobeys Stadium. These selections aim to give Canadian players a chance to compete at a high level on home soil.

Canadian Talent at the National Bank Open

Zhao and Arseneault join a group of notable players who have also received main-draw wild cards. This list includes seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, alongside Canadian players Bianca Andreescu, Kayla Cross, Katherine Sebov, Cadence Brace, and Rebecca Marino. The inclusion of these players highlights the tournament’s commitment to showcasing both established stars and emerging talent.

Noelle van Lottum, head of women’s tennis at Tennis Canada, expressed enthusiasm for the selections. Van Lottum noted that Arseneault’s game is progressing positively, and she is making efforts to position herself for competition at the highest levels. Regarding Zhao, van Lottum stated that she has been a respected figure in Canadian tennis for many years, and the organization is pleased to offer her this final opportunity to play in her home tournament.

In addition to singles wild cards, Tennis Canada also allocated doubles wild cards. These were awarded to the team of Bianca Andreescu and Kayla Cross, as well as the sister duo of Leylah and Bianca Fernandez from Laval, Que. These doubles pairings add further Canadian representation to the event.

Kayla Cross’s Recent Success and Other Canadian Sports News

Kayla Cross, a 21-year-old from London, secured her spot in Canada’s largest tennis tournament by earning a wild-card berth. She achieved this by winning a semifinal match against American Elizabeth Mandlik with a score of 2-1 (5-7, 7-6 (9), 6-2) at the Granby National Bank Championships. Cross continued her strong performance by winning the tournament in straight sets against Sara Saito of Japan.

Cross expressed her excitement about participating, stating she is looking forward to returning to Toronto and playing in the tournament she watched and dreamed of as she grew up. The women’s draw of the National Bank Open is scheduled to run from August 1-13. Cross’s 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.

Unfortunately, Canadian phenom Victoria Mboko, who won last year’s National Bank Open title in Montreal, will not be able to compete in this year’s tournament due to a knee injury. Her absence marks a notable change from the previous year’s event.

Beyond tennis, other Canadian sports news includes London Knights prospect Cooper McAslan being invited to Hockey Canada’s 27-player national men’s summer under-18 team training camp. The 17-year-old from Bowmanville was a strong performer for the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s London Nationals, recording eight goals and 37 points in 38 games this past season. He also contributed two assists in four games with the Knights and played in four of the club’s five playoff games against Sault Ste. Marie. The national under-18 team camp opens Monday in Edmonton.

In football, the undefeated London Jr. Mustangs are set to face the Cumberland Panthers in the Ontario Summer Football League U16 AAA provincial final. The game will take place 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 and advanced through the playoffs by defeating the Oakville Titans 28-7 and the Brampton Bulldogs 42-12. The Cumberland Panthers, who also hold a 9-0 record, secured their spot in the final by beating 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 are also making roster adjustments for the final 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 game against the Barrie Baycats at 7:05 p.m. at Labatt Park. Lewis, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound player, had a .340 batting average with 35 runs batted in and 44 stolen bases in 45 games as a graduate student at the University of Fort Lauderdale this season. Orfaly, a six-foot, 180-pound pitcher, concluded his collegiate career with a 15-7 record and a 4.91 earned-run average over four seasons with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, finishing his final season with a 7.52 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate and walking just 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.