Carol Zhao, Player Representative - Observer

Carol Zhao is a professional tennis player with over a decade of experience competing on the global stage. A former Canadian singles No. 1, she brings experience across elite sport, athlete development, and international competition.

As a junior, Carol reached a world ranking of No. 9, captured the 2013 Australian Open junior doubles title, and was named Canada’s Female Junior Player of the Year. While attending Stanford University, she emerged as one of the leading collegiate players of her era. Carol earned the No. 1 NCAA ranking in both singles and doubles, led the Cardinal to the 2016 NCAA Team Championship, and became the first Canadian in nearly two decades to reach the NCAA singles final. During her time at Stanford, she was also recognized as an ITA Scholar-Athlete while pursuing her B.Sc. in Science, Technology, and Society.

On the professional circuit, Carol has represented Canada on the Billie Jean King Cup Team five times since 2016. A doubles gold medalist at the 2015 Pan American Games who achieved a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 131 in 2018, she brings a contemporary perspective on the evolving landscape of professional tennis and the needs of its athletes.

Beyond her active playing career, Carol is a classically trained musician and singer-songwriter. Her interest in holistic development also informs her philanthropy: together with her husband, Andy, she co-founded the Fang-Zhao Charitable Fund, which supports sustainable youth development initiatives across sport, education, and the arts.