Marino can’t hang on, falling in Miami Open first round

Getting into the Miami Open main draw as a qualifier will be the big positive takeaway for Canada’s Rebecca Marino after the Canadian lost her first-round match on Wednesday to Katerina Siniakova in three sets.

Marino looked well on her way to victory when she led by a set and a break, but as the match dragged on some inconsistency caught up to the powerful Canadian, who faded down the stretch and was ultimately beaten 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Despite being her best weapon, Marino’s serve was ultimately her undoing, as she double faulted seven times and only won three total points on her second serve. She ultimately had to face 15 break points and was broken five times.

Marino wasted no time in asserting her power into the match, opening with an ace which led to a hold to love in the first game. She was then gifted an early break when Siniakova double-faulted on break point to put the Canadian ahead 3-1.

Once she had the break, Marino managed to hang on, saving all five break points she faced in the opening set, including four as she served for it at 5-3, before closing it out with another big serve.

It looked like the Canadian would run away with the victory when she broke in the opening game of the second set, taking a 2-0 lead. But the Czech, who is the number one ranked doubles player in the world, quickly turned the tables, reeling off six consecutive games to set the match to a deciding set.

Siniakova carried the momentum into the third set, breaking serve in Marino’s first service game and stretching her run to nine consecutive games to take a 3-0 lead. After having led 6-3, 2-0, the Canadian only managed to win one more game, holding for 1-3 in the third, before her opponent closed out the comeback.

Leylah Fernandez is the only other Canadian woman in the singles draw. After having had a first-round bye, she will kick off her campaign at 11 am local on Thursday against Karolina Muchova.