MONTREAL – Laval Leylah Fernandez of Vancouver and Rebecca Marino of Vancouver will star in Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Latvia next month.
Gabriela Dabrowski from Ottawa, François Abanda from Montreal and Carol Zhao from Ontario will complete the squad for this match, which will take place April 15-16 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.
Fernandes, ranked 21st in the world, is teaming up with the Canadian team for the fourth time in his career. She has won her last three matches in this competition – a surprise win against Belida Bencic in 2020, and two three-set victories over Serbs Olga Danilovic and Nina Stojanovic in 2021. The 19-year-old is coming in for her second title. career in the WTA on Sunday at the Monterrey tournament.
“I always have a lot of fun taking part in these tournaments and I’m glad I can finally play at home,” Fernandez told the Tennis Canada press release. Wearing the colors of Canada on the court is an honor and I look forward to doing so in front of a Canadian audience. »
Marino, 123rd in the world, will take part in the ninth meeting with the Billie Jean King Cup and her first in Canada, in addition, in her hometown. She was just crowned champion of a Challenger tournament played in California.
The Canadian team will also be able to build on the vast experience of Dabrowski, a specialist in doubles. Since 2013 he has participated in 16 Billie Jean King Cup matches and has a record of 8 wins and 7 losses.
Abanda will be meeting for the fifth time in Canada and for the eighth time in his career. The 25-year-old has always offered her best in tennis when defending the colors of Canada and has a record of seven wins and four losses. She recorded her most recent victory in the 2021 Finals against Fiona Ferro (4-6, 6-4, 6-4) and thus contributed to Canada’s triumph over the 2019 French champions.
Zhao, 26, has two wins and three losses in the tournament, with both wins coming in doubles with Dabrowski. This year, he already has a double title at an ITF tournament in Cancun, Mexico.
Canada and Latvia will meet for the first time. Canada is currently ranked 9th in the Billie Jean King Cup, while Latvia is 14th. The composition of Latvia will be announced later in March.
“For some of the girls on the team, including me, this will be their first home game,” said Heidi El Tabah. We are confident that Leylah, Gabriela, Rebecca, Françoise and Carol will do their best to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup final in Canada. »
The winners of this meeting will qualify for the Finals next November.
