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ESPNtenis.com
Nov 12, 2023, 3:15 p.m. ET
Canada Makes History in Billie Jean King Cup with Leylah Fernandez as Key Figure
Canada, led by Leylah Fernandez, secured the championship title in the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup. This victory marks a significant milestone for the North American country, as it is their first-ever triumph in the history of this esteemed women’s team championship.
In the decisive match against Italy, Marina Stakusic (ranked 258th in the WTA) set the tone by defeating Martina Trevisan with a score of 7-5 and 6-3 in an intense battle lasting one hour and 47 minutes. Following this, Leylah Fernandez (ranked 20th) took the stage.
Throughout the tournament, the Canadian team showcased remarkable cohesion, remaining undefeated in the group stage against Spain and Poland (even without Iga Swiatek). Although they faced a tough challenge against the Czech Republic, the resilience and determination of Leylah Fernandez, who reached the final of the 2021 US Open, propelled her team forward and secured their spot in the ultimate showdown.
In the final, Leylah Fernandez’s exceptional performance with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Jasmine Paolini etched Canada’s name in tennis history as the first-ever champions from their country in the Billie Jean King Cup. The team’s roster for this memorable week also included Rebecca Marino, Eugenie Boucard, and Gabriela Dabrowski.
Canada now joins the elite group of nations that have triumphed in the Billie Jean King Cup, becoming the 13th nation to achieve this honor. They follow in the footsteps of Switzerland, who clinched consecutive victories in the previous edition with Belinda Bencic leading the charge.
:quality(80)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/rc3NGQ2LT7RHvJ5uY_cJXEV1m-w=/828x0/smart/🤔 "Nick Kyrgios")
One Response
“Leylah Fernandez’s remarkable performance in leading Canada to victory in the Billie Jean King Cup is a testament to her incredible talent and determination. She has truly made history, etching her name as a force to be reckoned with on the tennis court. Canada should be proud of this young tennis sensation!”