Canada have won the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time in the history of the event after Leylah Fernandez clinched the finals tie with victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
The tie-clinching win by Canada’s top player Fernandez was made possible by an earlier victory for Marina Stakusic, who overcame Martina Trevisan 7-5 6-3 in the opening singles match with an unflappable display.
Fernandez, Stakusic, Rebecca Marino, Eugenie Bouchard and Gabriela Dabrowski form the victorious Canadian team that has been crowned world champions in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Canada’s newfound status and Billie Jean King Cup winners sees them follow in the footsteps of their Davis Cup team, which topped the men’s team ‘World Cup of Tennis’ podium last year.
In addition to receiving the legendary Billie Jean King Cup trophy, Canada was awarded with Billie Blue jackets made by the competition’s clothing partner Tory Burch, and will collect a record $2.4 million in prize money – comparable to that offered in Davis Cup.
Fernandez remarked that it was a special moment made more significant by having the trailblazing Billie Jean King in attendance to watch the victory.
“It feels amazing and I’m extremely proud that I was able to get to represent Canada on the biggest stage,” Fernandez said in an on-court interview. “To do it in front of Billie Jean, it means the world to me, to us and hopefully we can keep going, celebrate tonight and just have fun.”
Earlier in the week, Canada raced to top position in Group C with victories against host Spain and Poland. In the semifinal, Canada defeated Czechia 2-1, with Fernandez and Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski completing the tie with a 7-5, 7-6 (3) triumph in the doubles match.
Fernandez, who is 5-0 in the event this week, has been the rock for Canada all week. Stakusic, a virtual unknown entering the 12-team competition, emerged as a standout player, while Dabrowski served as a reliable anchor in doubles.
The Canadians were without their only eligible Grand Slam winner, 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, who has been nursing a back injury.
Canada, captained by Heidi El Tabakh, is the 13th nation to win the Billie Jean King Cup, and the second new winner in two years, following Switzerland’s victory in Glasgow a year ago.
“We’ve had an incredible week and to finish it off by winning the Billie Jean King Cup is a dream come true,” el Tabakh said.
