SEVILLE, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Gabriela Dabrowski, Marina Stakusic, Eugenie Bouchard, Rebecca … [+]
Canada made history on Sunday, winning the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time, as Leylah Fernandez and Marina Stakusic recorded two straight-set singles wins against four-time champions Italy in the final tie.
Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist, defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3 after 18-year-old Stakusic started the day in Seville, Spain with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Martina Trevisan.
The victories gave Canada an unassailable 2-0 lead and sealed their first championship at the preeminent women’s tennis team event.
The Billie Jean King Cup is the premier international team competition in women’s tennis, launched as the Federation Cup in 1963 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation.
It is named after Billie Jean King, a 12-times major champion and advocate for equity in sports and wages, LGBTQ rights and diverse, inclusive leadership.
“It feels amazing. I am extremely proud that I was able to represent Canada on the biggest stage,” said Fernandez.
“To do it in front of Billie Jean means the world to me, to us, and hopefully we can keep going and celebrate tonight.”
Canada had a near-perfect performance at the competition, losing only once on their way to the finale. Before Sunday’s title victory, Canada’s previous best result in the competition was a semi-final finish in 1988.
In addition to lifting the title, the Canadians earned a record $2.4m in prize money, which came a year after the country won their first Davis Cup.
Team Canada – the Canadian Olympic team – appreciated the players’ performance, saying: “The team played with such fervor and intensity that an early elimination never quite seemed to be in the cards.”
Dream Week For Stakusic
SEVILLE, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 12: Marina Stakusic of Team Canada celebrates after winning match point … [+]
Stakusic, ranked 258th, recorded her career-best result in Sunday’s win over Trevisan, who is a top 50 player.
During their clash, the players were nearly equal in winners, but Stakusic took charge when facing Trevisan’s second service, as she claimed 76% of those points.
Teenager Stakusic, who has won three ITF Challenger titles in the second half of this year, capped off a breakthrough week by slamming a forehand winner past Trevisan on her fifth match point.
The victory marked Stakusic’s first win over a top 50 player in her burgeoning career.
“I’m so happy and honoured that I could play this week, this has been the best week of my life,” Stakusic said.
