Marino, Stakusic, Branstine and Cross Obtain Wildcards into Nationwide Financial institution Open
The qualifying wild playing cards go to Canadians Carol Zhao, Cadence Brace and
Katherine Sebov.
[MONTREAL, QC] July 19, 2025 – At present, Tennis Canada introduced that Rebecca Marino (Vancouver, BC), Marina Stakusic (Mississauga, ON), Carson Branstine (Montreal, QC) and Kayla Cross (London, ON) have been granted fundamental draw wild playing cards for the Nationwide Financial institution Open introduced by Rogers (NBO) in Montréal, which runs from July 26 to August 7 at IGA Stadium. They be a part of fellow Canadians Leylah Annie Fernandez (No.35), who certified by advantage of her rating, in addition to Bianca Andreescu (No.185), Victoria Mboko (No.86) and Genie Bouchard, who have been awarded the primary fundamental draw wild playing cards.
Marino, No.117, can be making her sixth look in the primary draw of the NBO. In 2021, the previous No.38 acquired so far as the spherical of 16, posting wins over Madison Keys of the US and Paula Badosa of Spain earlier than falling to Aryna Sabalenka. Final month, Rebecca competed within the remaining of the Ilkley Open in Nice Britain and can be seeking to construct on that momentum in entrance of the crowds in Montréal.
Stakusic, No.142, can be returning to competitors following just a few weeks off to get better from an harm sustained after Roland-Garros. She can be making her second look in the primary draw of the NBO.
In 2024, Marina earned a wild card and gained her opening match towards Erika Andreeva. In 2025, she acquired so far as the quarterfinals of two WTA 125 occasions and represented Canada on the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers in Japan, the place she gained her singles match towards Workforce Romania.
Branstine, No.178, can be making her fundamental draw debut on the NBO. The rising star is at present having fun with an excellent season throughout which she certified for the primary draw of a Grand Slam for the very first time in her profession at Wimbledon. Within the qualifying rounds, she toppled prime seed and up to date Roland-Garros semifinalist Loïs Boisson and her compatriot Bianca Andreescu earlier than operating into World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka within the first spherical of the primary draw. Weeks earlier, Carson defeated No.17 Liudmila
Samsonova and competed within the remaining of a WTA 125 occasion in Mexico. She has tried to qualify for the NBO
4 occasions however has but to win a match.
Cross, No.230, will even be making her first look in the primary draw of the NBO. She performed within the qualifying tournaments in 2021 and 2022 however misplaced within the opening spherical each occasions. She acquired a wild card because the winner of the Street to the NBO competitors, having earned probably the most factors on the nationwide occasions main as much as Canada’s premier worldwide tennis match. To this point this season, she has gained an ITF W35 title within the US and reached the quarterfinals of two W75 tournaments and the semifinal of a W50 occasion. A member of the Louisiana State College’s ladies’s tennis workforce, she is ranked no.53 within the NCAA Division I singles and no.6 in doubles together with her accomplice Cadence Brace.
“We’re thrilled to announce {that a} file variety of eight Canadian ladies will participate on this yr’s fundamental draw,” mentioned Valérie Tétreault, Match Director of the Nationwide Financial institution Open in Montreal. “Tennis followers gained’t quickly overlook this historic version, the place the expertise of gamers like Eugenie Bouchard and Rebecca Marino will mix with the vitality of our rising stars like Victoria [Mboko], Marina [Stakusic], Carson [Branstine] and Kayla [Cross]. Our match has typically been the stage the place our Canadian gamers have delivered a few of the finest performances of their careers, carried by the vitality and fervour
of a crowd that rallies behind them each single match. It guarantees to be a memorable week.”
The ultimate wild card was awarded to Elizabeth Mandlik (No. 204) by the USTA below an settlement that
allowed Bianca Andreescu to enter the US Open draw final summer season.
4 Canadian ladies to compete within the qualifying match on Saturday, July 26 throughout IGA
Household Weekend
Followers could have the chance to see much more Canadian expertise in motion on Saturday, July 26, through the IGA Household Weekend in partnership with LEGO. Carol Zhao (Richmond Hill, ON), Cadence Brace (Toronto, ON) and Katherine Sebov (Toronto, ON) have all acquired wild playing cards for the qualifying occasion.
The ultimate qualifying wild card will go to the winner of the pre-qualification match that will get underway
on July 21 at IGA Stadium.
• Zhao (No.232), 30, leads the Canadian contingent in qualifying. Simply two weeks in the past, she reached the semifinals on the Corridor of Fame Open (WTA 125) within the US. Her 2025 season additionally features a semifinal at a W50 ITF occasion within the US and a quarterfinal displaying at a W75 in China. She can be competing within the NBO for the 14th time and seeking to higher her 5 fundamental draw appearances.
• Brace, 20, is at present ranked a career-high No.259. She lately adopted up an look within the remaining of a W75 occasion with a semifinal berth at a W100 ITF match within the US. Since January, she has been the no.1 singles participant for the LSU ladies’s tennis workforce (ranked no.8 within the NCAA) and kinds the top-ranked doubles pair with Kayla Cross (ranked no.6 within the NCAA). Cadence can be making her NBO debut.
• Sebov (No.301), 26, can be competing within the NBO for the eighth time (the seventh time as a qualifier) and seeking to declare her first win. In June, she performed within the semifinals of a W75 ITF occasion within the US after a semifinal look at a W50 in Florida. Earlier this yr, Katherine gained her fifth profession ITF title (W35).
