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Twelve months in the past, Canada was simply one other nation in workforce competitions in search of a breakthrough.
Now, they’re on the precipice of true greatness. What a distinction a 12 months makes.
Group Canada introduced by Sobeys are one tie/two matches/4 units away from claiming their first Billie Jean King Cup title after upsetting Czechia with a comeback victory within the semifinals on Saturday.
The victory over the Czech’s in some ways was traditional Group Canada and a narrative seen usually in these workforce competitions, with lower-ranked gamers rising to the event when their nation calls.
Leylah Annie Fernandez performed the hero on Saturday, scoring upsets in each her singles win over world No. 7 and Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and within the doubles with Gabriela Dabrowski towards seven-time main champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.
Learn additionally: Canada Looking to Rewrite History at the Billie Jean King Cup
“I’m extraordinarily happy with our workforce spirit, our workforce effort,” stated Fernandez. “I feel at this time, it was certainly one of our hardest ties as a result of we’re taking part in towards probably the greatest gamers on this planet individually and the very best workforce on this planet. They received [the Billie Jean King Cup] a few occasions. We undoubtedly had a tricky take a look at for us, however we have been simply tremendous excited, motivated, and we wished to placed on the present.”
And placed on a present, they did. Saturday actually summed up Fernandez in the Billie Jean King Cup this year, the place she is an ideal 7-0, discovering methods to win towards the chances, whether or not it’s a comeback or knocking off a higher-ranked participant.
“Right now was an unimaginable day. Leylah is simply unimaginable,” stated Captain Heidi El Tabakh after the victory. “I’m so happy with my ladies, however we’re not completed. We’ve acquired to come back out right here tomorrow and do it yet again. However I’m so happy with them.”
Historical past on the Line
Clearly, successful the World Cup of girls’s tennis is a giant deal. For a rustic that has by no means come significantly near this degree of success, it could be further particular.
Learn additionally: Stakusic, Fernandez Send Canada Into Billie Jean King Cup Semifinals
Listed below are only a few issues Canada would acccomplish with a victory on Sunday.
Canada is seeking to grow to be the 13th totally different nation to carry the trophy. They’d be the second first-time winner in a row after Switzerland claimed their first title a 12 months in the past.
With a win, Canada would additionally grow to be the 11th nation to have received each the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Canada can be the primary nation to win their first titles in every competitors in consecutive years since West Germany received their first Billie Jean King Cup in 1987 and first Davis Cup in 1988.
For at the least two weeks, Canada can be the title holder in each main workforce competitions. They’d be third nation since 2010 to concurrently maintain each titles.
Learn additionally: Canada Completes Sweep of Spain
“It’s a tremendous factor for Canadian tennis. I feel for us as a rustic, we’ve all the time been put apart as a hockey nation, which is true. However we’re additionally a tennis nation,” stated Fernandez. “There are plenty of ladies and boys which are choosing up a racket and they’re competing. I know that they’ve massive goals like all of us. I feel for us to be doing this and to have the ability to showcase that Canada can be amongst the very best international locations on this planet is an honor, it’s a privilege, and hopefully younger ladies, boys from Canada can proceed of their dream.”
Carry On Italy
Their finals foes, Italy, are fairly acquainted to Canada. The 2 nations met within the Group Stage of the 2022 Finals and the Canadians will likely be hoping for a repeat of that conflict, which Canada received 3-0, all three matches in straight units.
Fernandez was significantly dialed in throughout that tie, double-bagelling Martina Trevisan and finally dropping simply two video games in 4 units together with doubles.
The match-up will look a bit totally different this 12 months although.
If each groups have been to roll out the identical lineups as they did within the semis, Fernandez would face off with Jasmine Paolini as a substitute of Trevisan, who will possible be the Italian No. 2. The Canadian possible may have no objection to that, as she has received each earlier conferences with Paolini, together with earlier this 12 months in Doha, in straight units.
As a substitute, Marina Stakusic will possible be coping with Trevisan. Like Fernandez, the Canadian teen has taken her tennis to another level this week in Seville, scoring the 2 greatest wins of her profession within the Group Stage.
“Tomorrow is simply going to be an thrilling match-up for us towards Italy,” defined Fernandez. “Robust gamers. They convey plenty of coronary heart, plenty of grit on the courtroom. I simply know that it’s going to be a tricky time for us and it’s a remaining. We’re going to depart all of it on the market and hopefully with fingers crossed and the celebs aligned, perhaps we will carry the trophy up.”
For Gabriela Dabrowski, the veteran of Group Canada, it could be the fruits of an extended journey with Group Canada, prefer it was for Vasek Pospisil in 2022. The Ottawan has performed extra ties than anybody on the workforce and has barely missed an opportunity to play for her nation since first suiting up in 2013.
It might even be the proper finish to the 12 months for Dabrowski, who reached new heights on tour by successful her first major women’s doubles title at the US Open.
General, Canada leads the head-to-head 3-1 with Italy, though previous to their group stage assembly in 2022, they’d not performed since 1995.
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