SINGAPORE — In a thrilling encounter at the Singapore Tennis Open, Rebecca Marino nearly staged an incredible upset but fell just short when she lost her serve at a crucial moment in the third set, leveling the score at 5-5.
Marino ultimately succumbed to China’s fourth-seeded Xinyu Wang, with a final score of 6-5, 5-7, 7-5, after an exhilarating match that lasted two hours and 25 minutes.
The 34-year-old Marino, currently ranked No. 98 on the WTA Tour, raced ahead with an impressive 3-0 lead in the opening set. However, the younger Wang, ranked No. 35, quickly responded by clinching six of the following seven games.
In a display of fierce serving, Marino recorded an impressive 13 aces, overshadowing Wang’s three, though she did commit three double faults compared to Wang’s four.
Statistically, the match was closely contested, with only a narrow 40-37 edge for Wang in points won while receiving, showcasing the intensity of the battle.
With this victory, Wang progresses to the round of 16, where she will face Australia’s Maya Joint, who narrowly defeated American Alycia Parks with a score of 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 in her opening match.