(Vancouver) 19-year-old Lavallois Leylah Annie Fernandez will face Latvian Darja Semenistaja in qualifying at the Billie Jean King Cup in Vancouver on Friday.
Posted yesterday at 4:37 p.m.
Fernandez, who points at 21and world ranking, is the highest ranked player in the Canadian camp, while Semenistaja, the second highest ranked player on her team, occupies the 389and global level.
For her part, the Vancouverite Rebecca Marino will have an appointment with the Latvian Daniela Vismane, ranked 230and in the world, a little later on Friday.
Finalist in New York last year, Fernandez will next face Vismane on Saturday, while Marino, 111and world racket, will cross swords with Semenistaja.
Photo Hugo-Sébastien Aubert, LA PRESSE archives
Rebecca Marino
So far in 2022, Fernandez has won the Monterrey tournament, although she was quickly eliminated in Miami and Charleston.
Canadians Gabriela Dabrowski and Carol Zhao will next face Latvian Liga Dekmeijere and Diana Marcinkevica in doubles.
Latvia are deprived of their two star players, including the 11and world Jelena Ostapenko, who suffered a wrist injury at the Miami Open.
“I don’t think there’s a lot of importance in being underdogs or favorites,” Dabrowski said. What counts more in my opinion is the preparation, the team play, the attitude and the energy of the group. »
Anastasija Sevastova is also sidelined after announcing in January that she was taking a break from professional tennis to deal with an undetermined issue.
Canada will enter the competition ranked ninth in the world, while Latvia are ranked 14and rank.
Marino acquired around 50 tickets for family and friends, adding that several more of his relatives would try to attend the competition.
“It’s fabulous that it’s happening here,” she said. It’s a bit of a revival of tennis in the area. It’s fantastic to bring the community together for something very exciting. »
The winner of this clash will advance to the Billie Jean King Cup finals in November.