Wimbledon: Model and tennis player Carson Branstine once worked as Uber Eats delivery agent

Dubai: Canadian tennis player Carson Branstine recently drew attention not just for facing World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Centre Court in the first round, but also for her striking beauty. Sabalenka herself admitted, “Oh my god, this girl is so beautiful.”

Though Branstine lost in her debut match against Sabalenka, she gained invaluable experience and earned a prize cheque of £66,000—an amount that will surely help fuel her ambitions.

This sum carries special significance, as the 24-year-old has faced considerable challenges on her journey. Besides modeling for major brands, she revealed she worked as an Uber Eats delivery driver to support her tennis career.

Speaking to Tennis Channel about balancing these roles, Branstine said, “I didn’t want to ask my family for money.” Earlier this year in Los Angeles, she took on delivery shifts, with her last run just a day before flying to Cancun for a WTA 125K event, where she reached her first final.

“You know, when you’re playing ITFs and funding your entire life as a young adult, expenses add up fast. Living in Southern California, even filling up my gas tank was a big hit to my account. I thought, ‘How am I going to play a tournament, let alone live?’”

Branstine recalled a deeply emotional moment when financial strain overwhelmed her. “Just days before my first WTA final in Cancun, I checked my bank account one morning and saw only $26 (£19). I was crying and called a few friends. I didn’t call my parents because I was worried they’d be upset.”

She continued, “So I decided I had no choice. I just kept going. I was driving around Los Angeles delivering dinners after practice, doing whatever it took to keep chasing my dream.”