VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Rebecca Marino wanted to put on a show for her loved ones on Friday.

As CanadaB次元官网网址檚 No. 2 seed in the Billie Jean Cup qualifier, Marino was going up against LatviaB次元官网网址檚 top player in the series, Daniela Vismane B次元官网网址� and she was doing it in front of a hometown crowd.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like I gave everyone their moneyB次元官网网址檚 worth with a three-set nail-biter match today,B次元官网网址� she said with a smile after rallying for a gutsy 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 victory.

B次元官网网址淥bviously some nerves at the beginning, just trying to settle into the match,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd as it continued, I feel like I found my stride. IB次元官网网址檓 really proud of the fight and effort I put in today.B次元官网网址�

The win gave Canada a convincing 2-0 lead after Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., downed Darja Seminstaja 6-1, 6-2 to open the indoor hard court series earlier in the day.

The winner of the qualifier will advance to the finals in November.

Marino admitted that she didnB次元官网网址檛 watch much of FernandezB次元官网网址檚 match because she didnB次元官网网址檛 want to be overwhelmed by the crowd inside Pacific Coliseum.

B次元官网网址淚t meant a lot to me to have all my closest friends, all my family right there in the stands. I can literally see them, see their faces. I want to do well for them,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really proud of todayB次元官网网址檚 performance.B次元官网网址�

Marino, ranked 111th in the world, used a blistering serve to top Vismane, firing 17 aces across the match and sending one ball soaring over the net at 200 km per hour.

B次元官网网址淭he serve was my one thing I could rely on really heavily today,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淓verytime I stepped up to serve on my service game I was feeling really confident, ready to go.B次元官网网址�

Marino struggled with unforced errors at times, making 55 across the two-hour, seven-minute match.

She was repeatedly forced to play from behind in the second, but the crowd remained behind the Canadian, with the most boisterous applause erupting when she sent a return directly down the line to it up at 6-6.

A series of errors cost her in the tiebreak and Vismane took the set when Marino sent a return well beyond the service line.

The 31-year-old Canadian won three of six break points across the match, including one midway through the third set that gave her a 4-2 lead.

She clinched the win with yet another ace.

Vismane said she knew Marino would come in with a massive serve but refused to relent.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 always a fighter on the court,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd especially now when you play for your country, you donB次元官网网址檛 play for yourself, you play for all your country. So the level of fighting is much more. I just fight every point and pushed myself to the last point.B次元官网网址�

Fernandez, ranked 21st in the world, was dominant from the outset on Friday, firing a single ace and winning seven of nine break points.

B次元官网网址淚 think I managed my emotions fairly well,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 tried to be offensive, tried to do what I trained during the week and what my style of game is. So IB次元官网网址檓 glad that I was able to execute it as best as I can.B次元官网网址�

The 53-minute match also saw the 19-year-old Fernandez make some mistakes, including four double faults and conceding all three break points she faced.

She jumped out to an early lead, not allowing Semenistaja, the world No. 389, a single point in the first game.

The Latvian broke her Canadian counterpartB次元官网网址檚 serve in the third game, but Fernandez rallied and did not drop another game across the set.

The crowd at VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Pacific Coliseum gasped as Fernandez streaked across the court to dig out a return and sent a backhanded shot across the court. Cheers echoed through the stadium as the ball landed just inside the line to give Canada the game and a 5-1 lead.

Fernandez began to falter midway through the second set.

Up 4-1, she double-faulted then struggled with her returns, failing to notch a point as Semenistaja took her third break of the match.

Fernandez said she simply tried to forget about her mistakes as quickly as possible.

B次元官网网址淚 know mistakes will happen, I know sheB次元官网网址檒l hit her winners, I know IB次元官网网址檒l make some unforced errors,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e just got to stay calm and find solutions as quickly as possible. And IB次元官网网址檓 glad those solutions worked in the right time, right moment.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian caught a break in the next game when Semenistaja sent a return into the net, then put a ball long on the next point, giving Fernandez a 5-2 lead.

The runner-up at last yearB次元官网网址檚 U.S. Open, Fernandez closed out the match without allowing her opponent a single point in the final game.

The series will continue Saturday with Fernandez taking on Vismane, followed by a matchup between Semenistaja and Mariano. The action will conclude with CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Dabrowski and Carol Zhao taking on Liga Dekmeijere and Diana Marcinkevica in doubles.

B次元官网网址� Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press