Canada’s Rebecca Marino qualified for the tournament in Washington on Sunday after beating America’s Sachia Vickery 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 in the final qualifying round. She meets Venus Williams in the first round.
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The winner managed no fewer than six breaks 17 times while suffering the same fate just three times, including during her opening two games of service. She left few opportunities to break her opponent – ranked 179th in the world – after that, including slamming 11 aces.
Marino, currently number 109 in the world, cracked the top 10 for the first time since 2012 earlier this month. His only career duel against Williams is even further back. It was at the US Open in 2010 and the American won in straight sets.
Later this summer, the two women will also be at the National Bank Open, having received passes in Toronto.