Following a storied career, Canadian tennis trailblazer Vasek Pospisil has announced he will retire from the sport at this year’s National Bank Open presented by Rogers. The 35-year-old has received a main-draw wild card for the event in Toronto for his final farewell.
“It’s never easy making a decision like this,” said Pospisil. “Tennis has been a huge part of my life, but it has become clear, both mentally and physically, that it's the right time to step away. I feel incredibly grateful to have had the career I’ve had, especially coming from a small town where this dream once felt so far away. While I’m genuinely excited for what’s next, there will always be a part of me that misses the sport and everything it’s given me. Thank you to the passionate Canadian tennis community for supporting and cheering me on throughout my career. I'm honoured to have the opportunity to finish it alongside you, my friends and family in Toronto."
Pospisil is calling time on an 18-year professional career that has seen him claim some of tennis’ most sought-after prizes and achieve career-high rankings of No. 25 in singles (2014) and No. 4 in doubles (2015).
Alongside six doubles titles on the ATP Tour, including at Indian Wells (2015), the Canadian was a Wimbledon champion in 2014. There, he and American Jack Sock upset No. 1 seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in a thrilling five-set final on the All England Lawn and Tennis Club’s iconic Centre Court. The following year, Pospisil reached the quarterfinals in singles. He also reached three tour-level singles finals, in Washington (2014), Sofia and Montpellier (both 2020).
In addition to his exploits on tour, Pospisil has represented Team Canada with distinction. Affectionately earning the nickname “Mr. Davis Cup”, he has been ever-present on the Canadian roster since his debut in February 2008, racking up 35 ties played and 33 wins. His final appearance wearing the Maple Leaf was against Hungary in Montreal, QC earlier this year. His crowning moment in the competition came in 2022 when, alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau and captain Frank Dancevic, Pospisil lifted the Davis Cup trophy for the first time in Canadian history, leading the team to four doubles wins at the Finals.
Pospisil also represented Canada twice at the Olympic Games (London 2012 and Rio 2016).
“We would like to thank Vasek [Pospisil] for everything he has done, and will continue to do, for Canadian tennis over the course of a spectacular career,” said Gavin Ziv, Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Canada. “As the likes of Daniel Nestor did before him, Vasek has inspired countless Canadians across the country to pick up a racquet and participate in our great sport - proving, as the now-famous catchphrase goes, that ‘anything is Pospisil’. His career highlights are the stuff of legend, including that incredible Wimbledon doubles victory in 2014 and, of course, a Davis Cup championship, which we know meant so much to him and to the growth and development of tennis in Canada. We wish him the very best in his retirement.”
POSPISIL RECEIVES MAIN-DRAW WILD CARD TO 2025 NATIONAL BANK OPEN
Pospisil’s last tournament will be at the National Bank Open in Toronto this summer after Tennis Canada confirmed he has been awarded a main-draw wild card. He joins fellow Canadians Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov, Diallo and Road to the NBO champion Liam Draxl in the draw.
A firm fans’ favourite whenever he has graced the court in Toronto or Montreal, Pospisil played in one of the most highly anticipated matches in the tournament’s history in 2013. Beating No. 5 seed Tomas Berdych en route, a then-23-year-old Pospisil reached the semi-finals, where he faced compatriot and No. 11 seed Milos Raonic, who himself had overcome No. 13 seed Fabio Fognini and No. 6 seed Juan Martin del Potro. The Canadian duo proceeded to play out a spectacular match at IGA Stadium, with Raonic claiming a narrow victory in a third-set tiebreak.
“It seems only fitting that Vasek [Pospisil] should end his career at his home tournament, the National Bank Open presented by Rogers,” said Karl Hale, Tournament Director, NBO – Toronto. “He has been such an influential figure in Canadian tennis for the best part of two decades and he deserves a hero’s send off in Toronto next month. We look forward to celebrating Vasek’s career and achievements in style, in front of a home crowd at Sobeys Stadium and with the eyes of the tennis world on Canada. We know the fans will give him the goodbye he deserves.”
The remaining main draw wild cards for the Toronto tournament will be announced in the coming days.
Be there in person to see Pospisil’s last tournament as a professional. Click here to buy tickets to the NBO in Toronto now.
Featured photo: Martin Sidorjak
