[ad_1]
Final yr on the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, Group Canada offered by Sobeys was capable of make a press release once they upset the defending champions France regardless of being with out their prime two singles gamers.
Nonetheless, it was not sufficient to e-book Canada’s place within the 2022 finals, so on April 15 and 16, they may play host in a playoff tie with a spot within the Finals on the road.
This time round, Canada may have their prime participant as Leylah Annie Fernandez will probably be donning the crimson and white for the house workforce.
However their opponents are sending their star too. Standing between Canada and a berth in Prague are Group Latvia, led by a former Grand Slam champion.
Earlier than the primary ball is served, let’s take a look throughout the online at Latvia.
Jelena Ostapenko
A lot of Latvia’s hopes within the tie land on the shoulders of their prime participant, 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Ostapenko has had an up-and-down profession since successful her lone Slam title simply days after turning 20. She reached a career-high rating of No. 5 in early 2018, however has struggled with consistency, dropping as little as No. 83 on the planet in 2019. She is at present No. 12 within the rankings.
Nevertheless, the Latvian No. 1 has been resurgent to this point in 2022, coming by means of a loaded area to win the title in Dubai, beating 4 Grand Slam champions in a row on her method to the title. She adopted that up by reaching the semi-finals on the season’s first WTA 1000 occasion in Doha, taking out two extra main winners on her method to the ultimate 4.
Ostapenko boasts a 32-17 report (18-12 in singles, 14-5 in doubles) in her Billie Jean King Cup profession throughout 27 ties. She has suited up for Latvia yearly since 2013, when she was simply 15 years previous. Latvia’s possibilities of reaching the Finals very effectively may come all the way down to their star participant.
Daniela Vismane
At simply 21, Vismane will probably be showing in her ninth Billie Jean King Cup tie for Latvia. She made her debut in 2017 at simply 16 years previous.
Vismane has primarily performed doubles for her nation, placing up a 3-4 report. She has partnered twice with Ostapenko, going 2-0, and 4 instances with Diana Marcinkevica (1-3). She misplaced her lone singles match in her debut match in 2017.
On the ITF circuit, she has three singles titles and two doubles titles. She additionally reached a W60 closing, the best degree on the ITF tour, in doubles earlier in March.
Diana Marcinkevica
The veteran of the workforce is Marcinkevica, who has competed in 32 ties, the primary one being means again in 2009.
Marcinkevica, ranked No. 287 in singles and 236 in doubles, has an total report of 23-25 in Billie Jean King Cup competitors, 8-18 in singles and 15-7 in doubles. Her most up-to-date look got here within the 2019 World Group playoff, when she dropped a three-setter to Julia Goerges of Germany.
Lately, Mecinkevica has primarily performed doubles for Latvia and is the nation’s all-time doubles wins chief within the competitors, with that match in opposition to the Germans being her solely singles match in Billie Jean King Cup since 2017.
Whereas enjoying most repeatedly with Vismane, Marcinkevica has teamed up with Ostapenko in doubles quite a few instances and the pair have seen success, going 8-3 with the latest loss coming in 2015.
Darja Semenistaja
Semenistaja is the youngest member of the Latvian squad and will probably be making her Billie Jean King Cup debut.
Whereas the 19-year-old could also be missing in expertise on the WTA Tour, she had proven a penchant on the ITF circuit for clutch play in huge moments. Semenistaja is undefeated in her profession in finals on the ITF girls’s circuit, an ideal 8-0.
She had an enormous yr in 2021, selecting up seven titles, solely dropping two units in these finals. Semenistaja has one title in 2022 to this point and is at present ranked No. 397 in singles and 508 in doubles.
The Latvians are captained by Adrians Zguns.
[ad_2]
Source link
