Canada's Marino cruises to first-round win over Navarro Oliva at Puerto Vallarta Open

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — Vancouver's Rebecca Marino cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 win over Mexico's Maria Fernanda Navarro Oliva in the first round of the Puerto Vallarta Open on Tuesday.

Marino hit eight aces and won 73.5 per cent of her first service points en route to winning the match in 90 minutes.

The 33-year-old also saved two of three breakpoint opportunities while converting on four of five.

Marino will play Leolia Jeanjean of France on Thursday in the round of 16. Jeanjean upset No. 2 seed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-0, 7-5.

Ranked 146th in the world, Marino improved to 14-3 in singles play this year.

She is coming off winning the ITF W100 event in Irapuato, Mexico, on Feb. 11.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2024.