The street again to the UK and the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals is now clear for Group Canada offered by Sobeys.
On Thursday in Vancouver, the draw for this weekend’s qualifying tie was introduced on the Pacific Coliseum with each the Canadian and Belgian groups in attendance.
There have been little surprises, as Group Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh chosen the highest two Canadians within the WTA singles rankings, Leylah Annie Fernandez and Rebecca Marino, for the singles matches. Fernandez will then be part of Gabriela Dabrowski for the doubles rubber ought to or not it’s required.
Belgium went a bit extra off-script, nominating Yanina Wickmayer as their No. 2 singles participant regardless of the veteran being the workforce’s third highest-ranked participant within the singles rankings. Ysaline Bonaventure, the top-ranked Belgian participant in attendance, assumes the function as her nation’s No. 1.
Doubles is a energy for the Belgian squad and they’re going with Greet Minnen and Kirsten Flipkens for the possibly decisive match. Each girls are ranked contained in the High 70 in doubles.
Learn extra about Group Belgium
Fernandez will kick off the tie in opposition to Wickmayer within the first match on Friday, adopted by Marino in opposition to Bonaventure. The matchups will flip on Saturday, with Fernandez dealing with off with Bonaventure and Marino taking over Wickmayer, barring any lineup adjustments. The doubles will wrap up the tie on Saturday.
It will likely be a primary assembly between Fernandez and Wickmayer, however the Canadian is aware of her Saturday opponent. She and Bonaventure met earlier this 12 months within the Auckland quarter-finals and despite the fact that it was a victory for the Belgian, Fernandez believes that the expertise will assist her in what can be a essential match.
“I discovered loads from that match,” mentioned Fernandez. “Now I do know her recreation, I do know her patterns, it will likely be an thrilling matchup this Saturday.”
Bonaventure remembers that week in Auckland a bit extra fondly, the place she beat each Fernandez and Marino. She is hoping to duplicate the feat of beating the 2 Canadians on consecutive days.
“These had been two good matches. I had a great week in Auckland and I undoubtedly need to take this confidence to the matches this weekend,” mentioned Bonaventure reflecting on her wins over the Canadians three months in the past. “They’re each nice gamers, we’re going to have some robust matches so I’m simply going to attempt to produce the identical degree that I had the previous few months.”
Marino has met each of her potential opponents earlier than. She performed Wickmayer as soon as means again in 2018, additionally in Vancouver, a straight-set win for the Canadian.
Whereas Bonaventure obtained the win earlier this 12 months in Auckland, Marino leads their head-to-head 2-1 and received their most up-to-date assembly, getting revenge on the Belgian in qualifying at Abu Dhabi
“[Leylah and I] know what her recreation is like and we all know what to anticipate,” mentioned Marino of Bonaventure. “Notably we had been each in Auckland taking part in her on indoor arduous which could be very related situations to right here. I really feel like that’s actually good preparation and motivation as a result of we would like revenge for that, 100%. I’m fairly excited to get out in opposition to her on the courtroom.”
Learn additionally: Captain El Tabakh Assured in Group Canada
Ought to the tie come right down to the decisive doubles match, the Belgians have a mess of selections for his or her pair, as three of their 4 workforce members are High 100 doubles gamers and play commonly collectively on the tour.
“I believe we have now a great workforce when it comes to expertise and we have now good doubles workforce additionally with Yanina and Greet,” mentioned Flipkens, who was nominated for the doubles rubber. “I believe everybody can play alongside everybody and we’ll see if we come to the fifth rubber, who we’re going to place however I believe we have now plenty of choices and we’re a powerful workforce.”
Dabrowski acknowledged the energy of the Belgian doubles squad, saying “You could possibly argue that their A-team shouldn’t be even right here proper now and but they nonetheless have a tremendous calibre of gamers. I believe if it does go into the decider doubles it will likely be very, very difficult irrespective of who’s taking part in.”
Learn additionally: Group Canada Evokes Younger Athletes Forward of Billie Jean King Cup
However the Canadian doubles star shouldn’t be backing down ought to a possible decisive doubles match come up. “It can simply be very robust however we may even do our homework, some doubles technique I’m certain will come out of that and hopefully it goes in our favour.”
Residence Courtroom Benefit
That is the second 12 months in a row that Canada is competing not simply on dwelling soil in Vancouver, however on the exact same courtroom on the Pacific Coliseum.
Captain Heidi El Tabakh believes “It’s a bit little bit of a pleasant benefit to be right here once more. We’ve performed on the identical courtroom, we all know the way it feels. We’re going to be able to go.”
For Rebecca Marino, it’s a second straight 12 months taking part in in entrance of her dwelling crowd. Nevertheless, this setting is a little bit of a combined blessing.
“Enjoying in Vancouver, my hometown, for the Canadians taking part in in our dwelling nation, there’s a little added strain to carry out however I believe we use it as motivation,” defined Marino. “Particularly being in the identical stadium as final 12 months we all know precisely what the sensation can be like occurring courtroom so I believe it will likely be a optimistic issue in direction of us.”
As for Fernandez, who remains to be in search of consistency after a foot damage suffered final 12 months at Roland-Garros, her emotions forward of the tie are fairly easy: “I’m simply excited to be again right here taking part in for Group Canada.”
The Canadian No. 1 will kick off play at 4 pm native time in Vancouver on Friday.
