Carson Branstine sounds off on tennis inequality: “The fact I’m not exaggerating is diabolical”

Carson Branstine may be sidelined with injury, but the Canadian is making plenty of noise off the court—calling out what she sees as the sport’s uncomfortable truths.

The 25-year-old took to TikTok to tackle everything from injuries and the relentless WTA calendar to financial strain and perceived double standards in doping.

Titled “POV: you play professional tennis,” Branstine—whose career-high ranking is No. 172—delivers a series of mock conversations with tennis officials, spotlighting challenges that often hit lower-ranked players hardest.

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“Merry Christmas! Your flight’s today. That’s your Christmas present,” Branstine starts in a sarcastic tone. “But, like, you have to pay for it.”

“You can’t afford a coach?” she continued. “That really sucks… I can’t help you.”

With the caption “the fact I’m not exaggerating is diabolical,” the most pointed section of the video focuses on doping—and the disparity in how cases are handled.

“I mean, yeah she failed a drug test, but she’s No. 1 in the world,” Branstine said. “We need her to play…

“But, like, the other girl who is ranked No. 300 who (ate) contaminated meat? We’re just going to ban her for four years. We don’t need her.”

While Branstine didn’t name names, the parallels to recent high-profile cases are clear.

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Iga Swiatek was world No. 1 in late 2024 when she accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for low levels of trimetazidine (TMZ), traced to a contaminated melatonin supplement.

That outcome drew comparisons to Tara Moore (ranked in the 400s), who received a four-year ban in 2025 after testing positive for anabolic steroids following a 2022 event in Colombia—which she argued came from contaminated meat. Moore was initially cleared in 2023, but the decision was later overturned, leading her to file a $20 million negligence lawsuit against the WTA.

Branstine later clarified in the comments that she was “not referring to any specific players… it’s an example that has happened many times with different players.”

The Canadian broke through in 2025, drawing attention for funding her tennis career through modeling—she’s signed with two agencies—while pursuing a degree at Texas A&M. She also qualified for the Wimbledon main draw for the first time that year.

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She opened this season in Australia, winning her first-round qualifying match at the Australian Open before retiring injured against Daria Snigur due to a shoulder issue. She hasn’t competed since—another frustration highlighted in her video.

“So sorry about your injury! You’re not going to make a single dollar for eight months,” Branstine lamented.

“You must be crazy for thinking we would cover your medical bills from the tournament we hosted you at!

“Yeah, we have insurance, but it’s the most expensive insurance ever, of course.”

She ends with a jab at tennis’ packed schedule, another long-standing complaint among players:

“Obviously there’s an off season! You play from December to November. Wait…”