Led by the inspired play of Leylah Fernandez, Canada has reached the final of the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time.
Fernadez and Gabriela Dabrowski upset Czechia’s Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova in a second-set tiebreaker 7-5, 7-6 (3) on Saturday as Canada advanced with a 2-1 overall victory in the semifinal of the women’s international team tennis tournament.
Fernandez gave Canada hope with a singles win against Marketa Vondrousova, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, earlier in the day. She and Dabrowski then took down one of the best doubles teams in the world in the finale in Seville, Spain.
“It’s a great day for Canadian tennis,” said Fernandez, who added that the Canadian men’s victory in the 2022 Davis Cup inspired her and her teammates.
“In the singles match, I was super happy to have the crowd with me, cheering me on that really helped me.”
WATCH l Canada punches ticket to Billie Jean King Cup finals for 1st time:
Canada clinches historic berth in Billie Jean King Cup finals with deciding doubles victory
3 hours ago
Duration 2:15
Featured VideoLeylah Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski defeated Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova of Czechia 7-5, 7-6(3) to punch Canada’s ticket to the Billie Jean King Cup finals for the first time in history.
Canada will meet Italy in the 12-country final on Sunday.
Live coverage of the final begins at 9 a.m. ET on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.
Dabrowski, a 31-year-old from Ottawa, won the U.S. Open women’s doubles championship two months ago.
Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, has paired with Siniakova to win seven major doubles titles, including this year’s Australian Open.
Canada won the opening set of the decisive doubles match. The teams stayed on serve until Canada broke their opponents to take a 6-5 advantage and then closed the deal with a win on serve.
The teams traded breaks late in the second set, and then Canada persevered in the tiebreaker, with Fernandez serving to send her team into the final.
Canada’s Marina Stakusic opened the semifinal with a 2-6, 1-6 loss to Krejcikova. But Fernandez kept Canada’s hopes alive with her win over Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon women’s champion, in the day’s second match.
“I just played my game and tried to take it to her,” the 21-year-old Fernandez said after her singles win. “I love Billie Jean Cup tennis. It’s the World Cup of tennis.”
WATCH | Stakusic loses opening match of semis:
Canada’s Marina Stakusic falls to Barbora Krejcikova to open Billie Jean King Cup semifinals
8 hours ago
Duration 1:47
Featured VideoThe 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ont. lost to Czechia’s Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets (2-6, 1-6) in the opening semifinals match of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Canada advanced to the semifinals of the prestigious team event for only the second time and first since 1988.
Vondrousova, who broke through for a Grand Slam win at Wimbledon this summer, has won 14 straight matches at the Billie Jean Cup.
The world No. 7 saw her 26-set win and 13-match win streak snapped at the Billie Jean King Cup by Fernandez.
Fernandez held serve in a lengthy 10-minute opening game. She swiftly snatched a 4-0 lead and hung on for a 6-2 first-set victory.
WATCH | Fernandez keeps Canada alive:
Leylah Fernandez earns crucial victory to tie Billie Jean King Cup semifinals
5 hours ago
Duration 2:07
Featured VideoThe Laval, Que. native defeated Czechia’s Marketa Vondrousova 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to force an all-important deciding third match of the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals.
The tables were reversed in the second set. Vondrousova rallied to win the second set, going ahead 4-0 to force a deciding set with a 6-2 second-set victory.
Vondrousova and Fernandez broke each other’s serve to begin the deciding set. But the Montreal native, ranked No. 35 in the world, gave Canada a 3-1 lead, winning her serve in the second game and breaking Vondrousova and hung on to force a deciding doubles game.
Stakusic’s magical run ended in the opening match against Czechia. Ranked 258th in the world, the 18-year-old from Toronto shocked two top-70 players in opening wins in Canada’s group-stage victories against Spain and Poland.
She fell behind the 27-year-old Krejcikova after the Czech broke the Canadian’s opening-match service game.
Stakusic fought back to trail in the first set 3-2, but the 2021 French Open women’s champion stormed out to win three straight games to grab the lead.
World No. 10 Krejcikova was even better against her young opponent, winning the second set 6-1 to put a point on the board for Czechia.
In the first semifinal on Saturday, Jasmine Paolini defeated Tamara Zidansek, and Martina Trevisan downed Kaja Juvan as Italy sealed a 2-0 win against Slovenia.
The eighth-seeded Italians will seek their fifth Billie Jean Cup title, the first since 2013.
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
