Canada’s Marina Stakusic through to main draw at Australian Open

By Canadian Press on January 14, 2026.

MELBOURNE — Canada’s Marina Stakusic is through to the main draw at the Australian Open.

The 21-year-old athlete from Mississauga, Ont., earned her spot with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Lin Zhu of China in the final round of qualifying Thursday.

Stakusic had two aces and 21 winners across the one hour, 45 minute-long match and overcame 32 unforced errors for the victory.

She bounced Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain 6-3, 6-2 in the first round, then took a quick, two-set victory over Teodora Kostovic of Serbia before facing Zhu.

Stakusic will play in the main draw for the first time after falling in the first round of qualifying last year.

Toronto’s Victoria Mboko and Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., are also set to play women’s singles in the first Grand Slam of the year, beginning on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2026.

The Canadian Press

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