Carson Branstine has been stepping up lately! The Canadian came into the National Bank Open after her breakthrough at Wimbledon, where she made her first-ever draw. There, she faced World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Injuries and setbacks have held her back, but the 2025 season is looking up. Now, as she returns to the hard courts, she faces yet another issue. And she isn’t shy about speaking up.

On Monday, July 28, Branstine locked horns with former No. 3 Maria Sakkari. It all went down on Centre Court at Montreal’s IGA Stadium. The Greek registered a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win to reach the second round at this WTA 1000 hardcourt event.

But at a crucial moment, controversy erupted. A point was awarded to the Greeks after a deep backhand seemed to land out. The electronic line call system didn’t make an out call. Branstine returned the ball with a backhand, but her shot flew well out. The point went to Maria; however, the Canadian star couldn’t resist highlighting that moment!

Later, Carson Branstine took to X to reshare a fan’s tweet about the moment. She called out the obvious mistake in real time. She wrote, “They didn’t let me replay this clear mistake by the electronic line call because I played the shot after…BRUH obviously I tried to play the shot the damn thing didn’t call the ball out 😭 what’s a girl supposed to do” Yikes!

The electronic line-calling system is under fire this season. Carson isn’t the only player upset. At Wimbledon, stars like Taylor Fritz, Emma Raducanu, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova all complained about problems with the system. But at a 1000 event? This might have cost Branstine yet another setback on home soil.

She’s trying to find her footing this season. Fans, though, haven’t always gone easy on her. Branstine’s career has been one long battle against injuries. She’s had four surgeries—two each on her hips and knees. Those surgeries cost her five crucial years of development.

The setbacks meant redshirt seasons in college. In 2023, she ended her season early with another injury. Then, a right shoulder injury in 2024 forced her to skip Wimbledon. Through every obstacle and moment of doubt, Branstine fights to stay on court. Not to mention, she never shies away from answering critics, either—especially when it matters most!

Carson Branstine calls out haters after Wimbledon run

Branstine’s run to Wimbledon began in dramatic style, charging through three tough qualifying rounds and sealing her spot with a final win over former US Open champ Bianca Andreescu. That triumph landed her a dream main-draw matchup with World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka—definitely a moment to remember! From her entrance on No. 1 Court to those pre-tournament photo shoots, she was everywhere. But online critics, as always, had opinions. “She looks like a man,” some trolls said. Branstine? She had the perfect clapback.

Chatting with The Sun on July 12, Carson Branstine shrugged off the naysayers. “People like to comment their opinions on stuff when they don’t really know anything, but it doesn’t bother me. The two most common quote, unquote, hate comments have actually confirmed exactly why I am a signed model so it’s like thanks guys, you’re not saying anything I don’t know.” You have to love that confidence!

She didn’t stop there. “Calling me an alien. I’ve seen comments, been DM’d, and just things on different news articles or on Twitter, Instagram or whatever, saying, ‘Oh, your eyes look far apart’. ‘You’re an alien’. I’m an alien. I say this all the time. So it’s like, OK, confirmation or people are like, ‘Oh, you look like a man or you look like a boy and have masculine features’.”

Instead of letting it get to her, she flipped the script. “I’m like, that’s also the point. That is celebrated in the modelling industry. So I’m like, thank you guys for confirming that Wilhelmina made a great decision to sign me because that’s awesome. I totally agree.” Additionally, she walked out of Wimbledon with an $88,000 payment! Off the court and on the runway, she’s winning either way.

But there’s even more to Branstine than tennis and modelling. At Texas A&M, she spearheaded her team to a national title in 2024 and has a brain to match her serve. She’s studied Society, Ethics and Law, picked up minors in Philosophy and Sports Management, and even clocked time working with a family law attorney—yes, law school is still on her radar. Through all the twists and turns, tennis delivered friendships, travel, and a free education.

Though setbacks almost made her hang up her racket, Branstine’s Wimbledon adventure might just be lighting that fire again. The National Bank Open may not have gone her way, but don’t count her out. Could her next big break be just around the corner? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!