Eight months after successful Canada’s first Billie Jean King Cup in Seville, Spain, the gamers of that successful squad — Leylah Annie Fernandez, Gabriela Dabrowski, Marina Stakusic, Eugenie Bouchard, Rebecca Marino, and crew captain Heidi el Tabakh – had been honoured in a particular Tuesday night time ceremony at Sobeys Stadium, the place they got their championship rings.
The Canadian squad was bulletproof en path to their historic run to the title final fall. Having raced to the highest of Group C with dominant victories towards host Spain and Poland, Canada went head-to-head with Czech Republic, a nation that had already received this title 11 occasions, within the semifinals.
After the 2 groups break up the tightly contested singles rubbers, Fernandez and Dabrowski upset the seven-time Grand Slam-winning duo of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova in doubles to assist Canada safe a spot within the last. Within the championship match between Canada and Italy, Stakusic overcame Martina Trevisan, then Fernandez clinched the tie with a dominant victory over Jasmine Paolini.
“I simply had goosebumps watching that video, reliving that second,” el Tabakh, who additionally turned the primary feminine captain to guide their crew to victory since 2017, instructed Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae in an on-court interview. “What an unbelievable week that was, from begin to end. These ladies simply made historical past and I could not be extra pleased with each one in all them. For me to simply play a tiny half in that simply means the world to me.”
Learn additionally: Festivities for FAA in Montreal
For Dabrowski, an Ottawa native who final week partnered with Félix Auger-Aliassime to win Canada’s first Olympic medal in 24 years, there’s a totally different sort of feeling that washes over any participant when they’re tasked with representing their nation in a crew competitors. “I am proud to symbolize Canada alongside lots of wonderful athletes, clearly, at probably the most prestigious sport occasions in the whole world,” she mentioned of her Olympic expertise. “We’re so fortunate to have the chance to compete there, and hopefully, we made you guys proud too.”
Fernandez, who additionally received the Billie Jean King Cup Coronary heart Award final 12 months, carried the Canadians to victory final November. She received all 5 of her matches that week, incomes victories over reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova within the semifinals and future two-time Grand Slam finalist Paolini within the last.
Learn additionally: Pleasure and Psychological Well being within the Highlight on Tuesday in Toronto
When requested what she hoped younger ladies would be capable of take away from this victory, Fernandez had some phrases of knowledge for the following era of gamers who hope to symbolize Canada on the worldwide stage: “I feel the one factor that I would like these younger ladies, younger youngsters, to remove from our accomplishment can be: Hold working onerous, preserve having enjoyable, and by no means let anybody exterior of your self doubt you [or] to place any ceiling above your accomplishments, as a result of something is feasible. You’ve got simply set to work onerous.”
The WTA’s greatest return to Toronto this summer season for the Nationwide Financial institution Open August 4 to 12, 2024 at Sobeys Stadium. 2024 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets at this time!
Characteristic Photograph: Peter Energy
