By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday August 11, 2021

 

The Canadian is making a move up the rankings nearly a decade after she retired to preserve her mental health.

Photo Source: Getty

Rebecca Marino is riding the wave in Montreal. The Canadian, famously out of the game for more than five years after retiring in 2012 due to mental health issues, is having a moment at the Banque Nationale Open. On Wednesday she booked her spot in the round of 16 with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 triumph over Paula Badosa.



That's two big wins now for the wild card, who defeated No.16 seed Madison Keys in straight sets in her first round match. Those two wins mark her first Top-50 wins since 2011! Feels like bigger things are on the horizon.

“I think it was the right decision at the time for me to step away from the game,” Marino said after her first-round win over Madison Keys in Montreal. “I know some people didn't understand it at the time, but I'm really proud of the decisions I made because it made me feel like a completely whole individual, and it made me rediscover my love and passion for the sport. I think it shows when I play. I try to show that at least."

Marino opened the door for fruitful discussions about mental health and professional athletes before the subject was a buzzword, front and center in the sport; she’s glad she approached her life first and her tennis second.

“I think it also shows that I'm in a completely different head space now because I did take that time to sort of make sure that I was taking care of myself, staying healthy mentally, physically, then come back into the game when I was ready. I'm really proud of that decision that I made and I'm proud of how far I've come to where I am right now.”

Marino, currently ranked 220, is a former World No.38 - she believes she is playing better than her ranking at the moment.

“I do feel like I'm a little under-ranked right now, which is good and not great at the same time,” she said, adding that the only way to get higher is to win big matches at big events.

“It's using tournaments like this where I do get a wild card, capitalizing on the opportunity as much as I can to earn those ranking points and get my ranking back up. That's what I tried to do in Australia, getting back in the qualifying, winning that first round,” she said. “There's ups and downs through the years. I think I have to sort of seize the opportunities when I have them and just keep going for it as hard as I can. It's a little different right now with the pandemic and everyone's rankings are kind of all over the place. I just have to kind of keep my head down and just focus on my game and know that the results will follow, as well.”

Marino was ranked as low as 917 in 2018, but she has progressively climbed the steps since returning to the sport three years ago. Today's win over Badosa puts her at a projected 175.

She will face top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16 at Montreal.

Win or lose, her performance this week is a second coming of age moment for Marino, who is now 30 years of age.

“I feel like I'm the underdog in all these matches,” she said. “I feel like I can't sell myself short. I'm just going to, again, try to step up to the plate, do my best against her. Yeah, a bit of a tall order. If I just come and play my A game, I feel like I can stand with all these girls. I'll just give it my best shot like I have been all the other matches.”