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Crew Canada has each purpose to be assured that they’ll defend their Billie Jean King Cup title over the approaching days in Malaga.
Whereas the workforce that competes this 12 months is sort of similar to the one which gained the title a 12 months in the past, a number of components are working much more within the Canadians’ favour than in 2023.
Initially, they’ve the championship pedigree. Leylah Annie Fernandez, Rebecca Marino, Gabriela Dabrowski, and Marina Stakusic have all gained this title earlier than. They know what it will take to elevate the trophy.
Second, every member of the workforce is arriving in Malaga in even higher kind than a 12 months in the past.
Three of them have gained titles within the final month. Dabrowski arrives recent off a historic victory at the WTA Finals, whereas Marino and Stakusic each lifted WTA 125 trophies which had been the most important wins of each of their careers.
“I’m feeling incredible proper now. It’s actually thrilling to be coming in off that win [in Midland],” mentioned Marino at Crew Canada’s pre-event press convention on Friday. “Lots of confidence, particularly coming right into a workforce competitors like this.”
Marino’s WTA 125 victory was just last week and was her fourth title of 2024. All 4 of her victories this 12 months had been greater than any title she had beforehand gained. She is 18-2 in her final 20 matches.
The truth that they’re all coming in in good kind just isn’t misplaced on the members of Crew Canada.
“I’m coming in with a number of confidence,” mentioned Stakusic, who won her first WTA 125 trophy in October in Tampico, Mexico. “I do know all of them are, as properly. I’m simply very completely happy to convey hopefully some good vitality this week, and hopefully we are able to proceed as we did final 12 months.”
“I’m absolutely conscious that my teammates have additionally had incredible years. I feel we’re a very sturdy entrance and that makes me tremendous excited to come back in once more. I’m very excited for everybody,” expressed Marino.
Whereas Fernandez will be the one workforce member who didn’t elevate a trophy over the past month, she has posted some persistently stable outcomes on tour, most lately reaching the semifinals in Hong Kong. In every of her final three occasions, she misplaced to an eventual finalist.
Placing WTA Tour occasions apart, the Lavalloise is all the time a power to be reckoned with on the Billie Jean King Cup.
Learn additionally: Fernandez, Dabrowski, Stakusic, Marino Back to Defend Billie Jean King Cup Title – Meet Team Canada
Fernandez arrives on an eight-match profitable streak in Billie Jean King Cup competitors, profitable each single one among her matches (in each singles and doubles) through the 2023 title run, together with an ideal 5-0 report on the 2023 Finals.
She gained the event’s Coronary heart Award, which “goals to recognise gamers who’ve represented their nation with distinction, proven distinctive braveness on court docket and demonstrated excellent dedication to the workforce throughout Billie Jean King Cup” twice in 2023. She has gained it thrice general, essentially the most of any participant.
Although it has been a 12 months for the reason that ladies have suited up for Canada on the Billie Jean King Cup, all of them expressed their pleasure to be again collectively in Spain.
“It was an exquisite, fantastic week, 10 days that I spent with the workforce [in Seville in 2023]. I used to be having an exquisite time,” mirrored Fernandez on final 12 months’s title run. “We had Marina for the primary time with us, so it was tremendous cool to get to know her after which see her carry out on court docket. After which after all the setting off court docket with the remainder of the women and the supporting workers, I feel that was most likely one among my favourite components of the 12 months.”
As for the title defence, Fernandez mentioned, “I’m excited to be right here representing Canada with them, with the women, and I do hope that we get the prospect to do properly and defend our title. That’s our objective.”
Canada will kick off their bid for a second consecutive title on Sunday towards Nice Britain.
CLICK HERE for the whole lot you could know in regards to the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Viewers can watch Crew Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Remaining 8 ties without cost on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports activities app, and CBC Sports activities’ official YouTube channel. The ties may also be obtainable in French, as TVA Sports and TVA Sports Direct will likely be exhibiting Canada’s matchups, in addition to all semifinals and finals.
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