New Zealand's top player made big strides in 2011 after ending 2010 ranked 324 in singles on the WTA tour.

Marina's 2011 began in Auckland, where she lost in the first round to 2009 ASB Classic runner-up Elena Vesnina. She spent the US hardcourt season playing the ITF circuit, then won three straight matches to qualify for the French Open before losing in the first round to 6–2 4–6 4–6 to Arantxa Rus (who went on to oust then #2 Kim Clijsters in the second round).

She reached her first quarterfinal of the year on the grass at Birmingham, and continued her good form on grass by qualifying for the main draw at Wimbledon but lost to No. 25 seed Hantuchova in the second round. However, she and partner Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand reached the doubles semifinal before losing a close three-set battle to eventual runners up Sabine Lisicki pf Germany and Sam Stosur of Australia.

Marina scored her biggest win of the year in Stanford, beating top seed and current #3 ranked Victoria Azarenka to reach the quarterfinals.

Though beaten in the first round at the US Open after winning three qualifying matches to advance to the main draw, Marina's good form lead to her first WTA final of her career at the Bell Challenge held in Quebec City. To reach the final she defeated Caroline Garcia, Irina Falconi, former top 10-player Daniela Hantuchova and defending champion Tamira Paszek. She lost the final to Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic.