Canada's Rebecca Marino lost 7-6 (2), 6-3 to Italy's Jasmine Paolini in the first round of the WTA Tour's Gippsland Trophy on Sunday.

The tournament is one of three warmup events for the Australian Open, which starts Feb. 8.

Marino, ranked 313th in the world, qualified for the Australian Open earlier this month in Dubai. The Vancouver player will be competing in a Grand Slam for the first time in eight years.

Marino saved just one of five break points against the 97th-ranked Paolini, while the Italian saved seven of nine.

Women's event added for quarantining Australian Open players

The Women's Tennis Association has announced a new tournament in Melbourne for players undergoing a 14-day quarantine without an opportunity to practice ahead of the Australian Open beginning Feb. 8.

A WTA tournament for players in hard quarantine in Melbourne and unable to practise ahead of next month's Australian Open, including Canada's Bianca Andreescu, will begin Feb. 3.

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Canada's Rebecca Marino 'feels like different person' ahead of 1st major in 8 years

It’s been eight years since Rebecca Marino competed in a Grand Slam, and the Canadian says she “feels like a different person.” The 30-year-old from Vancouver is set to play the main draw of the Australian Open after breezing through qualifying without dropping a set.

Canada's Rebecca Marino, seen above at 2019 Australian Open qualifying, is set to make her Grand Slam main draw return after eight years at the 2021 version of the event.

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Paolini will face No. 10 seed Quang Wang of China in the second round.

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., and Leylah Annie Fernandez of Laval, Que., are the other Canadian women in the singles draw at the Australian Open. They'll both play in the Grampians Trophy, starting Wednesday.

Vancouver's Rebecca Marino lost in straight sets to open the Gippsland Trophy event on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia. She is preparing for the upcoming Australian Open, her first Grand Slam in eight years.

Rebecca Marino makes quick exit at Australian Open tune-up

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