Quebecer Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will headline the Canadian team that will participate in the Billie Jean King Cup this fall.
Ranked 26e Fernandez, originally from Laval, is the only representative of the maple leaf in the WTA top 100 in singles. Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is fourth in doubles.
The roster, released Monday by Tennis Canada, also includes Marina Stakusic, Rebecca Marino and Bianca Andreescu.
Aside from Andreescu, who will replace Eugenie Bouchard, the team will be the same as the one that won the title – Canada’s first in this tournament – last November.
“We have fulfilled a dream by winning the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023, and I believe that, in doing so, we have proven to the rest of the world that Canada is a tennis powerhouse,” commented Heidi El Tabakh, captain of the Canadian team.
“So once again this year, we’ll have a very powerful team that is more than capable of repeating its feat. Ultimately, our goal is to be a source of pride for Canada, and we’ll do our best to bring the same intensity that we brought to last year’s finals.”
Stakusic jumped 27 places to 128the in singles by virtue of his run to the quarterfinals at the Guadalajara Open last week. Marino is ranked 134ewhile Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion, is 167e.
Canada will face the winner between Great Britain and Germany in the quarterfinals on November 17 in Malaga, Spain. The tournament will continue until November 20.