‘I wasn’t allowed to call my parents’ – Wimbledon star broke down in tears after realizing she had just £19 left.
Carson Branstine has shared the tough financial challenges she faced early on while trying to build her professional tennis career.
The 25-year-old, ranked No. 174 in the world, turned pro in 2024 after a successful college tennis run in Southern California and Texas.
Branstine made headlines last year by beating big names like French Open semifinalist Loïs Boisson, former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, and Raluca Șerban to earn a spot in Wimbledon’s main draw.
Her first Grand Slam match was tough, as she faced world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the opening round. Although she lost 6-1 in the first set, she fought hard and came close in the second set, losing 7-5.
Since then, she hasn’t qualified for another Grand Slam and will miss Wimbledon this summer due to an injury during Australian Open qualifying.
To support her tennis career, Branstine has also tried modeling and even worked as an Uber Eats delivery driver.
She told Telegraf.rs, “Playing in ITF tournaments and paying for everything yourself is really expensive. Living in Southern California, just filling my car with gas emptied my wallet.”
She recalled a low point: “A few weeks before my first WTA final in Cancun, I had only $26 left in my bank account. I didn’t know how I’d pay for the tournament. I cried and called my friends, but didn’t tell my parents because I didn’t want to worry them. I told myself, ‘Just do it.’ After training, I drove around Los Angeles delivering dinners.”
Qualifying for Wimbledon earned her about £66,000, but she still leans on modeling to help cover expenses.
“I love being in front of the camera,” she said. “It’s fun, and I love fashion. Modeling has helped me pay for some trips. I didn’t want to ask my parents for money—I wanted to earn everything myself through tennis.”
She joked, “Agencies signed me for my looks, not my tennis. Modeling and tennis are kind of similar—people often forget that behind it all, you’re still a person.”