Canadian veteran Rebecca Marino moved a step closer to a second straight appearance in the U.S. Open women's singles main draw with a 6-1, 6-4 win over France's Fiona Fero in first-round qualifying action Monday.
The 35-year-old from Vancouver had eight aces and broke Fero four times on six chances.
Marino made it through qualifying last year at the final Grand Slam of the season before losing to fellow Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the first round.
She will next face Russia's Elena Pridankina in the three-round qualifying tournament.
Fellow Canadian Carson Branstine also moved on with a 6-2, 7-6 (3) win over Clervie Ngounoue of the United States. Branstine will next meet Czechia's Linda Fruhvirtova. Kayla Cross, of London, Ont., meanwhile, fell 6-1, 6-1 to Robin Montgomery of the U.S.
Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., the 2019 U.S. Open champion, was set to face Eva Vedder of the Netherlands later Monday.
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In men's action, Alexis Galarneau of Levis, Que., advanced to the second qualifying round with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 win over Keegan Smith of the United States. He will next face Czechia's Dalibor Svrcina.
In the opening round of mixed doubles qualifying, the second-seeded team of Ottawa's Gabriela Dabrowski and Finland's Harri Heliovaara were upset 2-4, 4-1, 10-8 by Kristina Mladenovic of France and Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador.
Dabrowski is also expected to compete in women's doubles at the U.S. Open. She won the title at last year's tournament alongside former partner Erin Routliffe, their second U.S. Open championship in three years.
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