Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino rallies past Lanlana Tararudee to advance in U.S. Open qualifying, while Canadians Branstine and Galarneau bow out.
Marino Battles Through in New York
Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino staged a dramatic comeback on Monday to keep her U.S. Open dream alive. The 34-year-old defeated Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in a tense qualifying match at Flushing Meadows, saving two match points along the way.
How the Match Unfolded
Marino started strong, winning the first set in just 31 minutes. But momentum swung as Tararudee, 21, controlled the second set and led 5-3 in the third. With her tournament hopes slipping away, Marino broke back twice and sealed the decider in just over two hours.
Key Numbers Behind the Win
Despite serving more double faults than her opponent (8–6) and landing fewer aces (9–8), Marino capitalised when it mattered most, converting four of five break points. She won 67% of her first-serve points, compared to Tararudee’s 73%, but outperformed her rival in clutch moments.
Next Opponent Awaits
With the victory, Marino advances to face Japan’s Mai Hontama in the next round of qualifying. A win there would bring her closer to entering the main draw of the 145th U.S. Open Tennis Championships, which run until September 7 in New York.
Mixed Results for Other Canadians
Elsewhere, American-Canadian Carson Branstine fell in three sets to China’s Xiyu Wang, despite taking the opener 6-3. Branstine struggled with 52 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break points in a match lasting over two hours.
Meanwhile, Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., was eliminated in straight sets by Croatia’s Dino Prizmic. Despite matching his opponent in aces and first-serve percentage, Galarneau faltered on second serves and break point opportunities, losing 7-6 (7), 6-1.
Canadian Hopes Moving Forward
While Branstine and Galarneau’s singles campaigns ended early, Marino’s resilience ensures Canada remains represented in the qualifiers. Her next test against Hontama could determine whether she secures a place in the main draw alongside tennis greats including defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner.
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