WINNIPEG, July 15, 2018 (Press Release)

Rebecca Marino was the lone Canadian left in action on Saturday as she was battling for a place in the final at the Winnipeg National Bank Challenger. The tournament features a mixed draw, with the men competing in the $75,000 Challenger event and the women in the $25,000 ITF Challenger event. The tournament will be played at the Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club from July 7-15, 2018.

After taking down the tournament’s eight seed on Friday, Rebecca Marino from Vancouver was in semi-final action against Victoria Rodriguez of Mexico, the seventh seed. Despite going up an early break in the match, the Canadian was unable to retain her lead, struggling on her serve. Her opponent went on to break her twice in the opener and take the first set. Marino found herself trailing early in the second, but a few strong games later, she found herself serving for the set. The 27-year-old stepped up her game halfway through the second and continued her momentum into the deciding set. The Canadian took the early lead in the third and did not look back. She dominated her opponent in the decider, booking her spot in the final with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 victory.

Currently ranked no. 432 in the world, Marino has won three titles this year at ITF tournaments in Turkey. This will be her second final at a $25,000 ITF Pro Circuit event this year, having reached a final in Japan a few months ago. Regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s match, Marino should break back in to the Top 400 of the WTA rankings.

The women’s final will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT), as Marino takes on the tournament’s second seed Julia Glushko of Israel. It will be followed by the men’s final between Lucas Miedler of Austria and the tournament’s fourth seed, Jason Kubler of Australia.

In doubles, Victoria Rodriguez and Akiko Omae were crowned champions on the women’s side while Marc-Andrea Huesler and partner Sem Verbeek won the doubles title on the men’s side.