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Naomi Osaka, Rebecca Marino, Marina Stakusic receive NBO Toronto wild cards

Jul 24, 2024 | 10:03 AM

TORONTO — Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will enter the National Bank Open women’s main draw as a wild card.

The 26-year-old Osaka, a former world No. 1, returned to tennis in January after taking a break for the birth of her first child.

Tennis Canada also announced Wednesday that Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino and Toronto’s Marina Stakusic are also wild-card recipients, joining Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont.

The 33-year-old Marino and 18-year-old Stakusic were part of the Canadian team that won the Billie Jean King Cup in November.

Eugenie Bouchard and Carson Branstine, both of Montreal, and Toronto’s Katherine Sebov secured qualifying wild cards. The final qualifying wild card will be awarded to the winner of a pre-qualifying draw.

Qualification is set for Aug. 4 and 5 at Sobeys Stadium, followed by main-draw action.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2024.

The Canadian Press