Former World No.38 Rebecca Marino enjoyed a return to remember in Antalya, Turkey, taking home her first title since 2013, in her first on-court appearance in nearly five years.
Rising up the ranks in the early 2010s, Marino made her first WTA final in Memphis and reached the third round of the French Open in 2011. The Canadian took a seven month haitus in 2012 and took a more permanent break a year later, shortly after revealing a history of depression made worse by virulent social media attacks.
She went on to be a strong advocate in anti-bullying and mental health campaigns, sharing her story in a Ted Talk and is a prominent face in the Bell Let's Talk initiative.
Marino announced her decision to return to tennis last fall, but ITF anti-drug regulations kept her sidelined an additional three months before she could return in late January at a $15K ITF Pro Circuit tournament in Turkey. The 27-year-old won seven matches (three in qualifying) without dropping a set.
