Rebecca Marino of Canada is eager to open up the “electrical feeling” of the National Bank

Rebecca Marino remembers all the details she made at the 2021 National Bank Open proposed by Rogers.

“It was a night game with (Madison, USA) Key at Central Field, and I just remember the crowds were so encouraging and really pushed me to win this game,” she said of the first round victory. “It was like this electric feeling. I was like, ‘Oh, I want more.’

“These are things you remember, more like emotions and this kind of thing, not necessarily a point or a specific thing, but this kind of atmosphere.”

It was a feeling when Marino returned to the game in Montreal.

The 34-year-old Vancouver native won the Universal Card in the main draw earlier this week and will be one of eight Canadian women in the Hard-Court competition.

“We rarely have the opportunity to compete in domestic competitions, and the National Bank Open is the biggest event we have,” she said. “So it’s really exciting to play at home in front of friends at home. It’s incredible.”

Canada’s contingent includes emerging players such as Carson Branstin and Victoria Mboko, as well as long-time favorites Leylah Fernandez, Bianca Andreescu and Genie Bouchard.

Busard recently announced that the game will be her last as a professional tennis player. Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, BC will also retire after Toronto’s men’s championship.

Both are players Marino has become more aware of in her career, and if a tribute video was played on the big screen, she hoped that those in the stadium would shed tears from their eyes.

“It’s interesting to see my peers start to retire,” she said, noting that both Busard and Posir are “inclusive” for Canadian tennis.

“They have a lot of Canadian pride. So I think it’s really special for them to play in front of a family crowd the last time they played. It’s very crazy, but I’m so happy for them. It’s like a celebration.”

Marino has no plans to hang up her racket.

Marino is currently ranked 118th in the world and even in grass season, she is happy with her performance – she admits it’s not her favorite.

She conquered the tricky surface at the Ilkley Open of the WTA 125 event in the UK last month, where she reached the final before falling into the IVA Jovic of the United States.

“I’ve embraced the grass, and I’ve learned to love it,” Marino said. “The hard court is my bread and butter, especially the swing of this North American hard court.

Earlier this year, the six-foot right-hander briefly climbed back to the WTA’s top 100 players, reaching No. 98 before the Australian Open in January.

Marino played a fiercely contested first round at Melbourne’s Katie Boulter but said she played consistent tennis all year round.

“I feel like I just have to keep or maintain the feeling that I belong to the highest level, and I can compete with the highest level,” she said. “And in tennis, you have to cheer up every week. No matter what happens, there’s only one person who wins the whole game.

“But look, I feel like I’m right there, ready to click. I’ve had a great week in Ilkley and it hits. Then I wish I could have another moment like this.”

Learning to accept the ebbs and flows of the sport has always been a process for Marino.

After reaching a career-high No. 38 in June 2011, she left the professional competition in 2013 after dealing with depression and cyberbullying.

She returned to school, joined the University of British Columbia rowing team and learned how to trust herself.

Five years later, Marino returns to tennis with a new prospect.

“(Time) allowed me to reflect and re-summarize who I am and that tennis is part of that, not the whole part of my identity,” she explained. “It was part of the Rebecca pie, so to speak.”

Adjusting her perspective allows Marino to fall in love with her sports.

As long as she falls in love with tennis and feels healthy, Marino plans to continue playing.

“When I got back to tennis, it allowed me to appreciate it in different ways. It was 100% of my choice. I’m not only going through the action of it. I want to be there. I like being there.” Marino also found love.

She was recently engaged to her partner, James Wasteneys.

Marino admits that balancing her busy schedule will be a challenge, but she is eager to embrace.

But for the time being, she is focused on unique opportunities to compete in Montreal and in Canada.

“Every time I get a chance, I still feel like I don’t think I don’t have an amazing opportunity,” Marino said. “So I just like every moment because it’s my choice and I love it.”