Canada’s Stakusic through to quarterfinals in Merida with win over Australia’s Joint

By The Canadian Press on October 30, 2024.

MÉRIDA, Mexico – Canada’s Marina Stakusic advanced to the quarterfinals of the Merida Open tennis tournament with a 2-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) win over Australia’s Maya Joint on Wednesday.

Stakusic, who entered the tournament ranked 116th in the world, converted seven of her 10 break points in a match that lasted two hours 40 minutes.

Joint, the world No. 110, was also strong on return with five breaks on eight attempts but hindered her cause with 10 double faults.

She will next face the winner of a match between Varvara Lepchenko of the United States and Russia’s Polina Kudermetova at the WTA 125 event.

It’s Stakusic’s second WTA Tour quarterfinal of the year, having also reached the final eight at a WTA 500 tournament in September in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., has performed well in Mexico this year. She is coming off a win at the second-tier WTA 125 tournament last week in Tampico.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 30, 2024.

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