In a comeback for the ages, Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ontario delivered an upset win over Polina Kudermetova in the first round on Tuesday in a WTA 500 event in Guadalajara, Mexico. Stakusic was actually trailing 6-3, 5-1 to Kudermetova, before winning six straight games in the second set and then the third set. When Stakusic became victorious, she came though with a final score of 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Stakusic’s win over Kudermetova was considered an upset, as Stakusic was ranked 155th in the world, and Kudermetova was ranked 65th. This was the first time Stakusic faced Kudermetova on the WTA Tour. Kudermetova beat Stakusic 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 in the second round in an International Tennis Federation event in Tunisia in May of 2022.
Next up for Stakusic in the second round is Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seed, and 2017 French Open champion. Stakusic won their only prior matchup. It just so happened to be in the first round of Guadalajara last year. Stakusic won 6-3, 5-7, 7-6.
Stakusic is one of two Canadians left in the draw. The other is Rebecca Marino of Toronto, Ontario. In the first round, Marino beat the 2022 French Open semifinalist Martina Trevisan of Italy, 6-2, 6-3. Marino will next face the sixth seed, Tatjana Maria of Germany, the 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist. Marino has won two of three matches head-to-head.