Who is Carson Branstine? American-born Canadian Hollywood model tasked with Aryna Sabalenka Wimbledon shock

A golden ticket is a spot in the main Wimbledon draw and for 24-year-old Carson Branstine, she has had to do it the hard way but perhaps this run should've been seen coming as she now has to tangle with Aryna Sabalenka at SW19.

Qualifying sees 256 players whittled down to 16 men and 16 women who make it through, Branstine was one of the 16 and had to take down the two biggest names in the draw in terms of pre tournament billing who many expected to meet in the second round.

But the American-born Canadian had other ideas. She took down both Lois Boisson who reached the semi-finals at the French Open but perhaps wasn't an adept scratch given she has barely played on grass.

But the most impressive was her close friend Bianca Andreescu who she teamed with in doubles mere weeks ago in Rosmalen as well as in juniors together where they won multiple titles. Then finally Raluca Serban to make it through to her major main draw debut at Wimbledon.

Branstine is an intriguing story with the Canadian citing Novak Djokovic as her idol. She was born to an American father and a Canadian mother meaning she could represent either. She spent a few years with the USTA before deciding to make the switch. She gave a superb interview post qualifying saying that perhaps the Hollywood resident in her is rubbing off on her with the bright lights of the home of megastars giving her that animated persona.

"That warrior mentality. He's Serbian so we talk about Djokovic a lot, he's my idol and he's someone I look up to. I've had to prove a lot of people wrong and relating to Novak in that way," said Branstine to Marcus Buckland for Wimbledon.

"I kept that mentality the whole way, I was saying prayers every single point. Somehow it worked. I'm an animated person, maybe because I live in Hollywood I have that rubbing off on me. I'm like the most relaxed chill person off the court and on the court my demons come out."

"I don't know what it is, this sport brings everything out of you. It is my biggest challenge, just controlling my mind."

She is currently World No.231 and has only gone as high as World No.190 in her career thus far. But this has been coming perhaps. She reached a WTA 125 final in 2025 against Emiliana Arango in Cancun. Before she made her WTA main draw debut in Rosmalen this month.

She defeated top seed and defending champion Liudmila Samsonova in a shock win before then losing to Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round.

She also has not played tennis for a few years, she decided to go and study at Texas A&M and reached a high ranking of World No.8 in the collegiate system. One frequently through the rise of for instance Peyton Stearns has been producing the goods in regards to rising talents.

She only ended her stint last year so even though she is almost 25, she is very much only just scratching the surface. Her story away from tennis also offers much intrigue as she works as a professional model away from the court.

She is signed to two modelling agencies and so is very much set whether she is deciding to have tennis as a long-time profession or not. Aryna Sabalenka will fancy her chances but Branstine will be buoyed by a dogged mentality in her qualifying where she was animated and not giving up on points.

Sabalenka is a bit of a conundrum. She has missed two out of the last three years at SW19 due to a shoulder injury last year in particular. She lost to Marketa Vondrousova in the semi-finals in Berlin so is both in form and not and given that she will go in as favourite in what is always an open women's draw in London, could there be a shock on the cards?

It is often in many sports that the fortune favours those with experience on the court already in the championships which is why it lends itself to so many shocks. Don't be surprised to see 6-1, 6-1 but also don't be surprised to see Sabalenka rocked against the 24-year-old Hollywood resident with a point to prove and a Serbian idol on her shoulder giving her the mentality she needs to succeed.

Albeit she did have a hilarious reaction post more to drawing Sabalenka, certainly not a fan.