Stakusic Falls in Guadalajara Quarterfinals After Upset Win
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Marina Stakusic’s impressive run at the Guadalajara Open ended Friday night with a 6-2, 6-3 quarterfinal loss to Emiliana Arango of Colombia. The defeat comes after a thrilling earlier victory where the 20-year-old Canadian upset third-seeded jelena Ostapenko.
Stakusic,of Mississauga,Ontario,reached her first WTA Tour-level quarterfinal since last year’s Guadalajara Open,demonstrating her growing potential on the international stage. While she couldn’t maintain momentum into the night match, her performance this week signals a positive trajectory for the rising Canadian star.
The day began with a remarkable comeback against Ostapenko of Latvia, a 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-2 victory. Stakusic dominated her service game, winning 87% of service points and securing the only break of the first set. After leading the second-set tiebreaker 5-2, she watched Ostapenko rally to claim it 7-6 (6). Stakusic responded strongly in the deciding set, earning two breaks to secure the upset.
However,fatigue appeared to impact Stakusic’s performance against Arango. She struggled with 31 unforced errors, two double faults, and a low 36% first serve percentage, ultimately falling in 74 minutes. Despite the loss,Stakusic’s Guadalajara campaign showcased her ability to compete with top players and marks a notable step forward in her young career.
