Quebecers Leylah Fernandez and Eugenie Bouchard are part of a group of five players who were chosen by Tennis Canada to represent the country at the Billie-Jean-King Cup Finals, which will be held in a month in Seville, Spain.
In a press release, Tennis Canada specified that Rebecca Marino, Gabriela Dabrowski and the young Ontario native Marina Stakusic will complete the Canadian roster.
The competition will take place from November 7-12. Canada will face Spain on November 8, then Poland the next day.
“I am very excited to see what this group can accomplish in Seville against the best players in the world for a third consecutive year,” commented captain Heidi El Tabakh in the Tennis Canada press release.
“Recently we have seen some fantastic performances from Leylah, Rebecca, Gabriela, Eugenie and Marina. This team is a great blend of experience and leadership, and I am confident we have what it takes to show the world what Canadian women are capable of. »
Fernandez has recently climbed the singles (60th) and doubles (19th) rankings. Last month, in Guadalajara, she reached her first singles quarterfinal at a WTA 1000 tournament. In doubles, she was a finalist at the French Open this year.
Fernandez has appeared in seven games for Canada. Last April, in Vancouver, she played an essential role in qualifying against Belgium, winning all three matches.
Marino (138th) has appeared in the singles main draw of every Grand Slam tournament this year. She is preparing to defend Canada’s colors for the tenth time at the Billie-Jean-King Cup and has a record of seven wins and nine losses in this international competition.
Dabrowski, ranked ninth in the world in doubles, has had a lot of success in recent months, allowing her to drop 12 places in her rankings since August.
At the United States Open, she won her first women’s doubles title in a Grand Slam tournament, then, the following week, she participated in the final of the Guadalajara Open.
During his career, Dabrowski appeared in 20 Billie Jean King Cup matches, posting a record of 12-7 in doubles and 0-5 in singles.
Bouchard, 29, continues her return to the game after shoulder surgery that kept her sidelined. This year, the 232nd-ranked woman reached the second round in Madrid and Guadalajara, both WTA 1000 events.
The Montrealer has taken part in ten Billie-Jean-King Cup matches, the last dating back to 2018. Her overall record is 13 wins and four losses.
The team is completed by Stakusic, who will be the rookie for the Canadian team. The 18-year-old athlete from Mississauga is ranked 299th in the world rankings and already has an interesting track record. She notably won two ITF circuit tournaments in September, in Berkeley and Valladolid.
The last meeting between Canada and Spain dates back to 1992, and the Canadians lost 2 to 1. Their only duel with Poland took place in 1980 and Canada won 2 to 0.
