Not long ago, Carson Branstine was zipping through Los Angeles delivering food for Uber Eats.
Fast forward a few months, and she found herself walking onto one of tennis’s grandest stages—Court No. 1 at Wimbledon—preparing to face the top seed in the world, Aryna Sabalenka.
It was a storybook journey, even if the ending wasn’t quite the fairy tale she’d hoped for.
A Tough Start to Her Wimbledon Dream
Branstine, 24, made her Wimbledon debut on Monday in the blazing London heat, but her run was cut short after a straight-set defeat to Sabalenka.
The World No. 1 handled the match with typical dominance, taking the win 6-1, 7-5.
While the first set flew by with Sabalenka in complete control, Branstine put up a spirited fight in the second, battling hard to make it more competitive.
Still, Sabalenka ultimately proved too strong and consistent.
The Underdog Everyone Was Talking About
Despite the early exit, Branstine had already captured the hearts of fans and media alike with her unconventional road to Wimbledon.
Ranked No. 194 in the world, she had become one of the tournament’s most talked-about underdogs—and not just for her game.
Between tennis training, Branstine has worked as a fashion model for top brands like Zara and Lululemon.
Even more remarkably, she was delivering takeout in L.A. earlier this year, using those earnings to fund her trips on the pro tour.
Striking the Balance Between Fashion and Tennis
In a recent interview with Clay magazine, Branstine reflected on her dual life: “Modelling and tennis are weirdly similar—you’re treated like an object sometimes and people forget you’re a person too.
But I love being in front of the camera.
Fashion’s fun and it helped me pay for my trips.”
More than anything, she emphasized her independence: “I didn’t want to ask my parents for money. I wanted everything to come from me and my tennis.”
Academic and Athletic: A Long Road to the Tour
Branstine’s journey wasn’t limited to the runway or delivery routes—she also boasts a strong academic background.
A former collegiate athlete, she competed for USC, the University of Virginia, and Texas A&M, where she earned a degree in Society, Ethics & Law, with a minor in Philosophy and Sports Management.
After battling through several injuries—including surgeries on both her knee and hip—Branstine decided to fully commit to tennis only at the start of this season.
Glimpses of Brilliance in Her Comeback
Her comeback has already shown promising signs.
In the Wimbledon qualifiers, she stunned French Open semi-finalist Lois Boisson, then beat her old junior doubles partner Bianca Andreescu—a player with whom she once won junior Grand Slam titles at the French and Australian Opens.
Earlier this June, she pulled off another major upset by defeating top-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in the first round of the Libema Open in the Netherlands.
Sabalenka’s Sights Set on the Title
As for Aryna Sabalenka, the victory marked another confident step in her pursuit of a Wimbledon title.
The Belarusian powerhouse, who’s had a rollercoaster of a few years—including a ban in 2022, a heartbreaking semi-final loss in 2023, and injury withdrawal last year—is now a major contender for the trophy after strong showings at both the Australian Open and Roland-Garros.
She’ll move on to face either Lulu Sun or Marie Bouzkova in the next round.
What’s Next for Branstine?
While the Wimbledon dream ended early, this likely won’t be the last we hear from Carson Branstine.
Her resilience, passion for the sport, and ability to juggle multiple careers are already making her a fan favorite.
With more training, exposure, and match experience under her belt, she may yet write her own Grand Slam success story—one Uber Eats run and fashion shoot at a time.