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Wozniak, Raonic, Pospisil, Bouchard, Andreescu, Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime, Fernandez, Diallo, Galarneau.
And Marina Stakusic.
From left to proper, this pic completely illustrates the passing of the torch at Tennis Canada. Eugenie Bouchard—our Captain Canada in crew tennis a couple of decade in the past—undoubtedly impressed Leylah Fernandez—our present-day nationwide heroine—who’s already sustaining the outstanding emergence of Marina Stakusic—our newest revelation and a shining instance of Canada’s tennis expertise.
Even with professionals like Rebecca Marino and Eugenie Bouchard within the combine, captain Heidi El Tabakh designated the 18-year-old Ontarian to guide the cost in singles as Canada’s no.2 on the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Within the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville, Stakusic rose to the event. In round-robin play, the present No. 258 outdid No. 65 Rebeka Masarova of Spain and No. 63 Magdalena Frech of Poland.
Not solely did Marina safe her first two wins in opposition to High 100 gamers however she additionally set the stage for back-to-back 3–0 sweeps by Canada en path to the semis.
Although actuality caught up along with her within the type of Grand Slam champion and World No. 10 Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia, she got here again even stronger with a superb takeover in her opening match against the lefty No. 43 Martina Trevisan of Italy, who’s ranked greater than each Masarova and Frech.
Stakusic secured the W for Canada and made Heidi El Tabakh and all of TC appear to be geniuses.
And let’s not neglect her dazzling displaying right here at residence final August, on the Nationwide Financial institution Open. In entrance of some thousand individuals on Centre Court docket at IGA Stadium, she gave Alycia Parks, then No.47, a run for her cash of their qualifier.
Marina Stakusic has but to decelerate since getting back from six months away therapeutic a knee harm. After her spectacular efficiency in Montréal, she went 22–4 and raised three winner’s trophies (W25, W60, W60) forward of her three strong wins in 4 matches on the BJK Cup.
Learn additionally: Stakusic Dazzles in Billie Jean King Cup Debut
About these names dropped on the prime of the web page, they had been all younger and inexperienced once they had been catapulted into tennis’ oldest and most prestigious worldwide occasion. They jumped on the likelihood and got here by for Canada.
In every occasion, the recruits joined forces with their predecessors.
And since the newbies had been essentially guided and supported by veterans who had been as soon as of their sneakers, it’s a full circle second.
With their semifinal berth, Marina, Leylah, Gabriela, Rebecca and Eugenie repeated a 35-year-old feat. The final Canadian squad to make it as far was the foursome pictured right here: the late Rene Simpson, Jill Hetherington, Helen Kelesi and captain Wendy Pattenden in 1988.
However instances have modified.
And so has the winners’ cheque.
In 2023, the 5 gamers collectively earned $2.4M.
Photograph : @geniebouchard
Stakusic’s piece of the pie is a big sum, but it surely pales compared to the wonderful expertise and mammoth quantity of confidence she gained on the Spanish expedition.
Wanting ahead to seeing what’s subsequent.
The (new) Captain Canada
Above and past Marina Stakusic’s astounding rise, the undisputed star of Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup conquest is Leylah Fernandez, who went undefeated in 5 matches (4 singles, one doubles) and introduced her BJK file to 12–3 in singles and 4–0 in doubles.
At solely 21 years outdated, she’s the brand new commander in chief of Canadian girls’s tennis. The newly minted Captain Canada.
After two years of ups and downs following her US Open remaining, her present success can solely buoy her confidence and assist get her again to the extent her expertise, willpower and struggle may actually carry her to: the High 10.
In opposition to all odds? Actually?
Did you name it?
As a lot as all of us love our nation and our gamers, what number of of you predicted Canada would win its very first Billie Jean King Cup within the 12 months it celebrates its sixtieth anniversary?
A 12 months in the past, did you assume the Davis Cup would roll into Canada?
When it comes time to have fun, none of that basically issues.
The age-old rallying cry each Canadian crew captain and chief has voiced resurfaces and turns into much more significant: at Billie Jean King/Davis Cup, something can occur! Anybody who disagrees is out of luck.
Like final 12 months, there have been a number of notable absentees.
Out of sight, out of thoughts, as they are saying.
For instance, Poland competed with out the World No.1, who’d gained the WTA Finals in Mexico just some days prior. Whereas having the tour finals and worldwide crew tennis occasions so shut collectively isn’t best and the calendars want rearranging, that mustn’t overshadow our success. Or anybody else’s.
Learn additionally: Canada Stands Alone Atop the Tennis World
Canada nonetheless sank the fantastically highly effective Czech armada made up of 5 members of the nation’s prime 8 who simply occur to take a seat within the WTA High 45. To not point out the decisive doubles victory secured by Dabrowski and Fernandez over the terrifying crew of Krejcikova and Siniakova and their seven Grand Slam titles within the final 5 years.
Identical to that, Canada joined the elite group of ten nations which have gained the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup at the very least as soon as AND the ultra-elite clique of those who maintain each titles concurrently.
No less than that’s true for the 2 weeks between November 12 and the Davis Cup title protection that’ll be settled on November 26.
If Félix and buddies handle to repeat, they’ll make Canada one of many uncommon nations to reign supreme in each crew tennis occasions for a complete 12 months, just like the Russian Tennis Federation (2021), Czechia (2012), the USA (1963–1969–1978–1979–1981–1982–1990) and Australia (1964–1965–1973).
Extraordinary.
Now that Canada has developed gamers who, individually and collectively, rival one of the best on this planet, we’re free to daydream about yet one more prestigious title—one from the Paris 2024 Summer season Olympics.
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E mail privard@tenniscanada.com
Twitter: @paul6rivard
Observe all our Canadians in motion here.
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