ITF World Tennis Tour Player of the Month: Marina Stakusic
Marina Stakusic has been named ITF World Tennis Tour Player of the Month after a breakthrough September.
The 18-year-old Canadian collected her first professional singles title on Spanish hard courts at W25 Valladolid at the turn of the month and immediately backed that up with victory in California at W60 Berkeley.
Stakusic’s triumphs were particularly noteworthy given they came in just her fourth and fifth events back on tour after six months on the sidelines due to injury.
The teenager dropped just a solitary set throughout an 11-match winning streak that took in victories over three players ranked inside the WTA’s Top 300 – No. 268 Liv Hovde, No. 99 Madison Brengle and No. 180 Elvina Kalieva.
Having started the month outside the world's Top 500 at No. 588, Stakusic rocketed 291 spots to earn a career-high ranking of No. 297 at the turn of October.
“I’m super happy and honoured to be named ITF [World Tennis Tour] Player of the Month,” said Stakusic.
“I am very pleased with my recent results. Since I have been out for six months due to injury, it makes it even more exciting that I was able to compete well and get great results. I am very motivated to keep going and win even bigger titles.”
Stakusic, whose older brother Marko also competes on the ITF World Tennis Tour, had never previously progressed beyond the semi-finals of an ITF event.
She made the most of her first opportunity on Spanish soil, hitting back to defeat Anna Kubareva 3-6 7-5 6-3 in the Valladolid final. Stakusic proved even more clinical in her second attempt three weeks later, swatting aside American Allie Kiick 6-3 6-4 in the Berkeley decider.
Stakusic, who has a 17-3 win-loss record for the year as a whole, looked primed to continue her form in Templeton last week but was forced to hand a walkover to eventual champion Taylor Townsend in the second round.
Even so, the young Canadian has done enough over the last few weeks to suggest she is very much one to watch in the months to come.
Stakusic shines in September
- Compiled an 11-0 win-loss record
- Went 22-1 in sets
- Defeated three top 300-ranked players
- Achieved a career-high WTA ranking of No. 297
- Contested just her fifth, sixth and seventh events of the year