Canadian veteran Rebecca Marino advanced a step closer to securing a spot in the U.S. Open women’s singles main draw for the second consecutive year by defeating France’s Fiona Fero 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of qualifying matches on Monday. The 35-year-old Vancouver native showcased a strong performance with eight aces and successfully breaking Fero four times out of six opportunities.
Marino successfully navigated through the qualifying rounds last year at the final Grand Slam event of the season but was ultimately defeated in the opening round by fellow Canadian Leylah Fernandez. Her next challenge in the three-round qualifying tournament will be against Russia’s Elena Pridankina.
Meanwhile, Carson Branstine, another Canadian player, secured a victory with a 6-2, 7-6 (3) win over Clervie Ngounoue from the United States. Branstine is set to face Czechia’s Linda Fruhvirtova in the upcoming match. However, Kayla Cross from London, Ont., faced a tough defeat of 6-1, 6-1 against Robin Montgomery from the U.S.
Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., was scheduled to compete against Eva Vedder from the Netherlands later on Monday. In the men’s category, Alexis Galarneau from Levis, Que., progressed to the second round of qualifying matches after defeating Keegan Smith from the United States 7-6 (4), 6-3. Galarneau is set to play against Czechia’s Dalibor Svrcina in the next round.
In the mixed doubles qualifying round, the second-seeded duo of Gabriela Dabrowski from Ottawa and Harri Heliovaara from Finland faced an upset, losing 2-4, 4-1, 10-8 to Kristina Mladenovic from France and Marcelo Arevalo from El Salvador. Dabrowski is also anticipated to participate in the women’s doubles event at the U.S. Open. She clinched the title at last year’s tournament alongside her former partner Erin Routliffe, marking their second U.S. Open championship in three years.
