Group 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 group that competes this 12 months is almost equivalent 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.
To begin with, 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’s going to take to carry the trophy.
Second, every member of the group is arriving in Malaga in even higher type than a 12 months in the past.
Three of them have gained titles within the final month. Dabrowski arrives contemporary off a historic victory on the WTA Finals, whereas Marino and Stakusic each lifted WTA 125 trophies which had been the largest wins of each of their careers.
“I’m feeling unbelievable proper now. It’s actually thrilling to be coming in off that win [in Midland],” stated Marino at Group Canada’s pre-event press convention on Friday. “A whole lot of confidence, particularly coming right into a group competitors like this.”
Marino’s WTA 125 victory was simply final 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 type shouldn’t be misplaced on the members of Group Canada.
“I’m coming in with a number of confidence,” stated Stakusic, who gained her first WTA 125 trophy in October in Tampico, Mexico. “I do know all of them are, as nicely. I’m simply very joyful to convey hopefully some good power this week, and hopefully we are able to proceed as we did final 12 months.”
“I’m totally conscious that my teammates have additionally had unbelievable years. I feel we’re a extremely robust entrance and that makes me tremendous excited to come back in once more. I’m very excited for everybody,” expressed Marino.
Whereas Fernandez stands out as the one group member who didn’t carry a trophy over the past month, she has posted some constantly 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 pressure to be reckoned with on the Billie Jean King Cup.
Learn additionally: Fernandez, Dabrowski, Stakusic, Marino Again to Defend Billie Jean King Cup Title – Meet Group Canada
Fernandez arrives on an eight-match profitable streak in Billie Jean King Cup competitors, profitable each single one in all her matches (in each singles and doubles) throughout the 2023 title run, together with an ideal 5-0 file on the 2023 Finals.
She gained the match’s Coronary heart Award, which “goals to recognise gamers who’ve represented their nation with distinction, proven distinctive braveness on courtroom and demonstrated excellent dedication to the group throughout Billie Jean King Cup” twice in 2023. She has gained it 3 times total, essentially the most of any participant.
Although it has been a 12 months because the 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, great week, 10 days that I spent with the group [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 courtroom. After which in fact the atmosphere off courtroom with the remainder of the women and the supporting employees, I feel that was in all probability one in all my favourite components of the 12 months.”
As for the title defence, Fernandez stated, “I’m excited to be right here representing Canada with them, with the women, and I do hope that we get the possibility to do nicely 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 all the pieces it’s good to know concerning the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Viewers can watch Group Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Closing 8 ties free of charge on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports activities app, and CBC Sports activities’ official YouTube channel. The ties can even be accessible in French, as TVA Sports activities and TVA Sports activities Direct can be exhibiting Canada’s matchups, in addition to all semifinals and finals.
