NATIONAL BANK OPEN

July 26, 2025

Vasek Pospisil

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Vasek, welcome back to Toronto. After your announcement last week, how do you feel before your last dance here in Canada?

VASEK POSPISIL: Yeah, I feel good. I feel at peace with the decision. I'm really excited to go on court one last time. I feel very fortunate to be able to do so in front of my friends and family. So it's a very fitting place to end the career, and like I said, it's definitely the right time for me to go.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. We can't get you to change your mind at this stage, I take it. How comfortable are you feeling now that you're here and it's kind of upon you?

VASEK POSPISIL: Oh, it's been an interesting week. It's really hit me the last four, five days or so. I obviously have known for a few months that I was going to call it quits here this week, but it's mixed emotions, for sure.

I'm definitely ready to turn the page. Honestly, I can't wait to finish with my career, but at the same time I know I'll miss it. I mean, it's been pretty much my entire life, you know, playing tennis and competing at the high level for 18 years, but like I said, it's time.

Q. I think back to a baby face Vasek when he played doubles here with Milos Raonic against Nadal and Djokovic. I just wonder, how has the state of Canadian tennis changed from when you first came on the scene as a professional to how you're leaving it now as you head into retirement.

VASEK POSPISIL: Yeah, I mean, tennis in Canada has changed a lot. Growing up you always have your role models. I mean, Daniel Nestor was my Canadian role model growing up. We didn't really have too many players at the top of the singles game. Obviously that's changed quite a bit the last 15 years, which is amazing. I mean, we're a winter-sport nation, at least historically, and that's changing in some ways, or at least I think we're in a bit of a golden era of tennis in Canada. And we can't take it for granted either because things can change.

But Tennis Canada is doing an amazing job, and we have a lot of young talent on the tour right now and coming up, so I think for the next 10 years the sport is in great hands here in Canada.

Q. What kind of legacy do you hope that you left on the sport, both on and off the court?

VASEK POSPISIL: Well, you know, that's a big word, but yeah, I mean, I want to be remembered as a good person, as someone that always was honest and stood up for what he believed in, competed hard, did my best every time I stepped on the court, be it in practice or in match play. Yeah, I think that that would be quite the legacy in itself.

I feel like I've always been true to myself. I wear my heart on my sleeve, you kind of know what I think and what I don't think if you're around me. I think that it's better to be that way than not. I think, yeah, just being genuine, being who you are, and hopefully that I'm remembered that way.

Q. What kind of things are you taking with you from your tennis career, and how do you see your life in the nearest future?

VASEK POSPISIL: Well, tennis teaches you a lot. Tennis is an incredible sport. It's incredibly difficult to make it in this sport. You have to commit a lot from a young age, and sacrifice a lot.

I think you learn life lessons, you know, perhaps you have to learn those lessons perhaps a bit sooner than in other professions or maybe other sports, because it's individual. You're kind of your own CEO, you learn from your mistakes, you learn from the tough times, and you have to do that quickly. Then if you're able to do that quickly, then you can succeed. If not, then you fall behind and you don't succeed in this sport. And that's life. I mean, that transcends into every part of life. Whether it's business, whether it's politics, whether it's opening a grocery store or whatever, I don't know, it's just life, you know, relationships.

So I'm very fortunate, and I've learned very tough lessons, I think I grew a lot as a person over the years. I think I'm set up pretty well for whatever I do after tennis. I think the number one thing is you have to be passionate about what you do. If you're not, then it really feels like work and it can be very tiring and can wear you down. But if you're passionate about what you do then it gives you energy, and I think it gives you the opportunity to excel in whatever it is you choose to do.

Yeah, I'm going to make sure that whatever I do after tennis that I'm passionate about it, that's number one. I feel fortunate that I have the ability to make those choices, so I'll be very picky with how I spend my time going forward.

Q. I won't ask you for a top-10 career highlight list here, but could you maybe pare it down to three moments or accomplishments that really stand out for you that you're proud of during your career?

VASEK POSPISIL: Three? So Wimbledon doubles and Davis Cup, for sure, top 2.

Third one, I would say my breakthrough event in Montreal, the Masters. That was just such a crazy, emotional week for me. It was really, like I said, it was my breakthrough, it was my first real big result on the big stage. When you do something for the first time like that it sticks with you a little bit longer, and there are more emotions that are involved in a moment like that. So, yeah, that week for sure I'll take and put in the top 3.