Vasek Pospisil, one of Canada’s most beloved tennis players, ended his professional journey on Sunday at the 2024 National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Toronto. The 35-year-old stepped off the court for the last time after a match against Facundo Bagnis, with family, friends, and fans cheering him on.
Twelve years ago, Pospisil stunned tennis fans in Montreal by defeating World No. 6 Tomas Berdych in a nail-biting third-round match. That victory became his breakthrough moment.
“I don’t really know what’s going on now,” Pospisil had said then. “Right now it’s okay. It was pretty emotional, I mean, just the hard work that I’ve put in. To have my first Top‑10 win here, in front of that crowd, was extremely emotional. I was having difficulty controlling it.”
Celebrating a Career Full of Highs
Throughout his career, Pospisil reached impressive heights. He climbed into the Top 30 in singles, captured the Wimbledon doubles title in 2014 with Jack Sock, and played a key role in Canada’s historic Davis Cup win in 2022.
“It’s just [been] an incredible journey. I’m so grateful, honestly, [for] the career I’ve had, the opportunities the sport has given me, the people I’ve met along the way that are friends for life,” Pospisil shared during the on-court ceremony. “Coming from a small town in B.C., it felt like a bit of a pipe dream back then… It’s easy to lose perspective sometimes that this is truly a dream come true for me.”
His peers and mentors joined in to honor his journey. Daniel Nestor, Canada’s former doubles World No. 1, recalled how Pospisil evolved from a promising junior into a dependable national player.
“I remember when he first came on our Davis Cup team when he was 16, 17… I consider him Canada’s best all-around player because he’s had success in singles, Top 30. In doubles he got to the Top 5 and won Wimbledon. It was impressive.”
Frank Dancevic, Canadian Davis Cup captain and Pospisil’s former coach, also reflected on their shared journey:
“We’ve known each other for a very long time… I had the pleasure of working with him for a few years in 2019, ’20 and ’21. It was a great experience for both of us and it’s just an amazing career to be proud of.”
What Comes After Tennis for Pospisil?
While the match on Sunday marked the end of his ATP Tour career, Pospisil made it clear he’s excited about what lies ahead. He believes that passion will continue to guide his path.
“I think I’m set up pretty well for whatever I do after tennis… I’m going to make sure that after tennis that I’m passionate about it. That’s number one. I feel fortunate that I have the ability to make those choices.”
Pospisil’s legacy goes beyond statistics and titles. His resilience, sportsmanship, and national pride have inspired a generation of Canadian tennis players. As he turns the page, he leaves behind memories that will live on in Canadian tennis history.
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