The National Bank Open crackles with energy as the fiercest names in women’s tennis put pedal to the metal, gunning for that perfect pre–US Open launchpad. Right at the heart of the buzz is Rebecca Marino, making waves with her electric fourth tournament of the season. After a long hiatus, this hometown hero is back, eyes locked on the prize and hungry for a storybook run on Canadian soil. Meanwhile, let’s take a look at her career so far!
What led Rebecca Marino to Retire From Tennis at 22?
Marino burst onto the tennis scene back in 2010, thrilling fans as a 20-year-old Canadian qualifier. She made headlines at the US Open by toppling Ksenia Pervak and then pushing Venus Williams to fight hard in the second round. For nearly a year, Marino’s meteoric rise had crowds buzzing—her game soared, her ranking climbed, and her spirit won over a ton of admirers.
2011 was a highlight reel. Marino hit her first—and only—WTA final in Memphis and, later that year, smashed into the world’s top 40, peaking at No.38. Life looked pretty golden, right? Suddenly, though, things turned upside down. Losses started stacking up, and that blazing trail began to fade as fast as it arrived.
WTA, Tennis Damen Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2023 Rebecca Marino of Canada in action against Daria Kasatkina of Russia at the WTA Qatar TotalEnergies Open tennis tournament at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, 14 February 2023 DOHA Qatar PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xNoushadxThekkayilx originalFilename:varittyakkal-wtaqatar230214_npbjx.jpg
Memphis rolled around again in 2012, but fate had its own plans. Rebecca had a final to defend and, in a twist, faced Pervak—the opponent who’d seen her early triumph. But this time, it was Marino who fell, and she stepped away from the tour, her spark dimming.
How did Marino’s retirement unfold?
By 2013, after a rough loss in the Memphis qualifiers, 22-year-old Rebecca Marino made the bold call to leave pro tennis behind. She opened up about her struggles—six years of battling depression, worn down by harsh online comments and relentless media focus. Deciding she’d had enough, Marino swapped her racquet for a spot on the University of British Columbia’s rowing team, pressing pause on the sport that had once defined her.
Marino didn’t hold back when sharing her reasons for stepping away. In a TED Talk and a candid chat with the New York Times, she revealed, “Things were being written about me, and I’m quite sensitive about that, and I’m quite nosy, so I’ll look it up and then I’ll realize I shouldn’t have looked it up.” The spotlight wasn’t always friendly: “With professional athletes, people put them on a pedestal sometimes, and they forget that they’re actually a person still.”
The backlash stung even more: “They’ll say, ‘You gave that match away, you cost me such-and-such amount of money, you should go burn in hell,’ or ‘You should go die,’ And oh, my gosh, that is really scary.” Marino summed it up perfectly: “Names definitely hurt. Words hurt.” But here’s the twist—nearly five years later, in 2017, she decided the story wasn’t over.
What Changed Leading up to Her Comeback?
When 2017 hit, Rebecca Marino sent excitement through Canadian tennis with her big news: she was coming back to the sport after almost five years off the pro circuit. Her plan was simple but from the heart—she just wanted to be happy playing and competing again. “I want to be happy to be on court and compete, that’s all that matters to me,” Marino said, all smiles and fresh perspective. She aimed to hit the courts at ITF Pro Circuit events in Toronto and Saguenay, fueled by her love for the game and nothing more.
Just as her comeback gained traction, Marino hit a snag—ITF anti-doping rules sidelined her for three more months. Undeterred, she poured her energy into practice and served as a hitting partner at events. By late January 2018, at 27, she officially returned at a $15k Antalya tournament, blazing through seven matches without dropping a set to claim the title like she never left.
Her momentum didn’t stop there. Marino swept two more Antalya titles in February, riding a 19-match win streak and soaring up the rankings. Since 2018, she’s snagged multiple ITF titles, including W100 wins in Irapuato and Ilkley in 2024, cracked the top 100 again in July 2022, and finished that year with a career-best No.65 ranking. Along the way, she earned Tennis Canada Female Player of the Year twice, cementing a comeback story that inspires fans everywhere.
Why is Marino facing Emma Navarro at the 2025 National Bank Open?
Rebecca Marino has made waves in 2025 with a 13-16 record so far. She started by edging Lulu Sun at the Auckland Classic but then lost to Bernarda Pera. She bowed out early at the Australian Open to 22nd seed Katie Boulter. In Montreal, Marino broke her main-draw drought with a thrilling 7-6(2), 6-1 win over Elsa Jacquemot, overcoming a tense first-set tiebreak and four second-set break points. Now, she’s gearing up to face Emma Navarro! The American is no regular opponent though!
Navarro’s 2025 has been a rollercoaster. She exploded onto the scene with a quarterfinal at the Australian Open and a dominant Merida Open Akron title, where she dropped a double bagel in the final—talk about a statement. Clay didn’t treat her well, with a first-round French Open exit. But grass was her playground, battling into Wimbledon’s fourth round and stunning defending champ Barbora Krejcikova.
Right now, Emma owns a 24-18 record, sits at world No.11, and grabbed a first-round win in Montreal, looking to build on her breakout summer’s momentum from last year’s National Bank Open semifinals and her first Grand Slam semi at the US Open.
As for this fresh face-off, both bring heat. Navarro’s deep runs and big wins show her firepower, but Marino’s underdog grit, home support, and a key win already make this a clash to watch.
What’s the Head‑to‑Head History and Match Context?
Emma Navarro holds a 2-0 head-to-head lead over Rebecca Marino, making this Montreal showdown a seriously juicy rematch. The last time these two faced off, at the 2023 Cincinnati Open, Marino grabbed the opening set, but Navarro stormed back with a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 comeback—putting her resilience front and center. Even with a somewhat shaky 57% win rate on hard courts this season, Navarro isn’t expected to bow out early here. She’s got history in Montreal, reaching the WTA 1000 semifinals last year, and she likes the spotlight.
The energy around this matchup is electric. Marino arrived in Montreal after rough patches at the ASB Classic, Australian Open, and Singapore Tennis Open—all hard-court losses. But snapping up a tense win over Elsa Jacquemot in round one, with dramatic service breaks and a clutch tiebreak finish, has her riding a fresh wave of confidence. It’s only her second career main-draw win at the Canadian Open and, with a surging home crowd, Marino’s belief is sky-high.
Let’s be real—game time on the main tour has been scarce for Marino this year. The Jacquemot victory marked just her second main-draw win of the season. She looked sharp and ready in that opener, but facing Navarro is a different beast. Navarro, with her powerful groundstrokes and silky-smooth volleys at net, poses a massive challenge, especially when you add her perfect record against Marino so far.
Who comes out on top? Only time will tell! Navarro owns the head-to-head, boasts a deeper arsenal, and knows how to turn up the heat in these big moments. But Marino’s fighting spirit, backed by a fired-up Canadian crowd and a newfound momentum, adds real spice to this showdown.
The post Why Did Rebecca Marino Retire From Tennis at 22? Inside the Comeback of Emma Navarro’s 2025 National Bank Open Opponent appeared first on EssentiallySports.
