OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 12, 2021

Rebecca Marino

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/R. Marino

6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Would you walk us through the match, what you think made the difference today.

REBECCA MARINO: Yeah, so obviously a big challenge today against Sabalenka, No. 1 seed at the tournament. She just came out firing from the first ball. She didn't give me much to work with. Very impressive. My hat's off to her for that. Tried my best to get back in the match. In the second set I felt like I had certainly more control, and I hung in there a little bit.

But, yeah, so I'm a little disappointed with today. But overall if I look at the grand scheme of the week, I think there's a lot of positives from this experience and I'm really proud of myself.

Q. Back to before the tournament when you got the news you were going to be playing in the main draw, what were your goals? What was your mindset? What were you trying to achieve? Do you feel you got to where you wanted to go with your mindset at the start of the tournament?

REBECCA MARINO: Yeah, well, to begin with, I wasn't sure if I was getting a main draw or a qualifying wild card. For any opportunity I was given in either scenario, I was quite happy with because this is a huge tournament.

Secondly, once I knew I had that main draw wild card, I wanted to use it to the maximum capability, the maximum opportunity. It didn't matter who I was going to play, I just wanted to leave it all on the court, give it my best shot.

In my heart I feel like I belong with these players, I belong at this level. Yeah, I feel like the results kind of demonstrated that self-belief that I had.

It just takes a little while to climb. I'm glad I got to show everyone how I played.

Q. Yesterday the same thing happened in the first set, but you came back. Do you have a reason for that?

REBECCA MARINO: Honestly I'm not really quite sure what happened with the first sets in both matches. I mean, I came on court really wanting to hit the ground running. It just didn't quite happen. To me it almost felt a bit different today.

Yeah, yesterday felt a bit more from nerves. Today felt more like Sabalenka was just absolutely on top of me from the first ball. So different sensations and reasons why I think the first set maybe wasn't as successful.

Q. Can you walk us through what this week has felt like for you as someone who is coming back to the tour, really fighting to climb the rankings again?

REBECCA MARINO: Right, I mean, this week has been very exciting in itself. I think I've said it a few times: it was an incredible opportunity, an incredible experience. I'm really grateful for that.

Yeah, climbing up the rankings is not an easy thing. Usually I would rely on having tournaments in Canada through the year, but this is the only one we have so far. That's why it meant a lot to me to be able to compete at home and to do a good job.

Yeah, I'm hoping to sort of build off this and keep the climb going.

Q. What's next for you? Another tournament lined up?

REBECCA MARINO: I'm trying to figure that out right now. Most definitely I'm playing the US Open qualifying coming up, so you'll see me there.

Q. You just said you're playing in the Open qualifying. You're up to 175. Is it important to have a couple good results in the US Open qualifying now to get your ranking up to where you can get into these tournaments?

REBECCA MARINO: Oh, of course. I mean, that's kind of the goal, right, is to get your ranking to continue to climb up. If I can do a good job in the quallies there, hopefully things will keep going, the ranking will improve, and I can get into more tournaments.

You have to remember everyone is in that position, too. I've just got to try my best and we'll see how it lands.

Q. You talked about being able to play against these women. Your confidence has to be up. Is it frustrating knowing that you really have to work hard to get more opportunities to do this?

REBECCA MARINO: I mean, sure. I mean, it is hard right now to get these opportunities, but that's what makes it that much more special. I'm also very happy to work hard and earn it on my own right and continue to climb up, kind of scrap for it.

It's no problem. That's the way the tournament schedule is. I feel like I have the motivation, I have the work ethic, and I just have to continue to keep at it right now.

Q. What will you remember most about this week?

REBECCA MARINO: Oh, gosh, I mean, that's kind of the tricky question, right? I mean, there's so much that I'm going to remember.

Getting back-to-back top-40 wins is pretty special out there. I think also it felt like not only did I have the crowd and the fans in Montreal, I really felt it from coast-to-coast in Canada. It was a really special moment. I will remember it for a long, long time I think.

Q. You mentioned it's not easy climbing the rankings. What is important right now trying to build on this momentum? What do you see as the keys?

REBECCA MARINO: I think definitely the key would be to keep the confidence from this week and remember that I have the game to get there. Whether or not there's little hiccups down the road, I just have to have that self-belief and maintain that through all my tournaments through the rest of the year and even next year.