Professional tennis player Carol Zhao and DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang both attended Stanford University at the same time – Andy even lived across the hall from one of Carol’s bridesmaids during freshman year – but it wasn’t until they both graduated that they connected. After Zhao sustained an injury in the spring of 2019 on the tennis circuit, she returned to San Francisco, where their paths finally crossed. “I had no idea that what felt like a career misfortune at the time would be the impetus to the start of our relationship,” Carol says.
“Now, it feels like it was fate.” Their first date took place at the Biergarten in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley. “What started out as a simple conversation over drinks turned into a multi-hour affair that spanned multiple bars in the neighbourhood,” Andy says.
“And even a chicken ramen dinner!” After they started dating (and Carol recovered from her injury), the tennis calendar kept Carol travelling close to 10 months a year, so it took serious planning for Andy to lock down a time and place to propose. “In February 2023, I decided to propose in Austin and also looped her parents into my plans,” Andy remembers. “When I arrived, I pretended all of us were going out for a nice dinner, but surprised Carol with my proposal.
Afterwards, we celebrated together at a nearby Mexican restaurant, Suerte.” “I loved that it was simple, intimate, and private,” Carol says. “Just the two of us in that moment.
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