It is a remarkable story and one filled with hope, despair, emotion, reinvention, heartbreak and triumph. But at next month’s Australian Open, a new chapter will begin as Canada’s Rebecca Marino makes her first Grand Slam main draw appearance for eight years.

In 2013, at the age of just 22, Marino walked away from the game citing burnout, although later revealed she was battling depression and had struggled with cyber bullying and abuse received on social media.

During nearly five years away from tennis, she worked on her physical and mental well-being, studying English Literature at the University of British Colombia and competing on the varsity rowing team there.

After her father, Joe, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, Marino decided to return to the sport, although a successful early comeback soon gave way to an 18-month injury nightmare which threatened to derail her career permanently.

A plantar fascia tear in her left foot kept her off court until September 2020, while to compound what was already an incredibly demanding and destabilising period, her father tragically passed away at the age of 59.

But Marino, now 30, is nothing if not resilient, and earlier this month, having not played competitively since June 2019, won all three of her matches in qualifying to once again take her place on the Grand Slam stage.

“It has been quite a challenge and a rollercoaster through life so to get back and have a moment like this is really redeeming and I am proud of everything I have accomplished,” said Marino.

“Some of that has been behind the scenes which people haven’t seen but a lot of it has been public because I try and be open and honest about everything that life has thrown at me.

“It has been really gratifying to have some form of success again, especially after some of the challenges and hardships, particularly in the last year.”

Marino grew up in Vancouver before moving to Montreal in 2009 to develop her game at the National Training Centre. Her breakthrough arrived in 2010 when she made her Grand Slam debut after navigating qualifying, gaining global attention as she flirted with an upset against the mighty Venus Williams in the second round.

Williams would pay her rookie opponent the compliment of claiming she “now knows what it is like to play myself”, while Marino’s rise continued as she surged up the rankings to a career-high No. 38 in July 2011.

But the 2013 Australian Open, where she was defeated in the opening round by China’s Peng Shuai, would prove her last Grand Slam tournament for the best part of a decade as mental and physical fatigue took their toll.

“I don’t remember much about the match as I was already contemplating at that point taking a step back from tennis, maybe that is why I have blotted it out of my memory,” added Marino.

“I think back to that period of my life and I feel like I was a different person and what I would tell other people is that period of your life is not forever.

“If you do the right things to get yourself a better mental state, whether it is just talking or other different steps to take care of your mental health, it is obviously important. I feel like if I had not done that, I would not be in the position I am right now.”

It was the cancer diagnosis of her father which proved the catalyst for Marino ending her five-year sabbatical, while her return to the ITF World Tennis Tour in early 2018 saw her claim victory in her first 19 matches.

Titles followed as did a return to Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup team before injury struck and the death of her father had a profound effect on her outlook. It is the memory of her father which is fuelling Marino’s renaissance.

“My father was very important in my decision making for my comeback,” she said.

“His health battles and challenges were what inspired me. Considering that 2020 was probably the most challenging year of my life, I am really proud to make it here with him in mind for a lot of the process.”

Travelling to qualifying in Dubai without a coach – she is flying solo in Melbourne also – allowed Marino “independent thought” which sees her primed for action and ready to make her presence felt among the sport’s elite.

The Grand Slam spotlight holds few fears and Marino has no intention of wilting under its glare. The skills which fired her into the Top 40 remain, it is her desire and appetite for success which have been restored and renewed.

“Now that I have achieved the goal of reaching a Grand Slam, the next step would be to hopefully win a round,” added Marino, who is currently ranked No. 313 in the world. “I have to keep pushing my goals higher and higher, so I’d love to be able to win at least a round.

“But it is not necessarily the result itself, I want to make sure I leave it all on court and take this chance.

“If that is winning a round or multiple rounds, so be it. If it’s not winning a round, that is okay too because that is the reality of sport, but obviously I would like to go as far as I can in terms of my ability and leave everything out there in terms of effort.

“I don’t think my game set has changed all that much, I still have the big serve and the big baseline ground strokes. I have tried to add a little bit more craft, a little bit more slice.

“The biggest difference would be more in terms of competitive spirit and also determination and grittiness. I feel I am a lot more mentally strong now and that is the major change I have noticed. I just really want it right now.”

Marino also insists she is better equipped to deal with issues, situations and hurdles which were troublesome in the past, which leaves only eagerness and anticipation as she takes the next step on her enthralling and captivating journey.

“Social media is a lot more prevalent and so I feel like in growing up a little bit too I have been able to manage that better now than I did before,” she said. “I have no doubt that I can keep my head on the court, it’s not so much of a worry for me.

“There’s just excitement. Grand Slams are where we all want to be, I am just really happy to have this opportunity ahead of me and I really want to compete as hard as I can.

“I guess also it is a lot more meaningful because it was a conscious decision to come back to tennis. For me to know that was the right decision, I suppose you could call it validation or some sort of positive reinforcement that I am making the right choice.

“Tennis is definitely very meaningful to me and I am really happy with that decision.”