Gabriela Dabrowski and Leylah Fernandez, shown here after their doubles win in the semifinals of last year's Billie Jean King Cup Finals, are set to compete again as they join the Canadian team to defend their championship in Malaga, Spain this week. (Photo: Manu Fernandez/Associated Press/File)
Leylah Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski are set to lead Canada in defending their Billie Jean King Cup title in Malaga, Spain. Fernandez, ranked 26th in singles and known for reaching the U.S. Open final in 2021, is the only Canadian among the top 100 in the WTA singles rankings. Ottawa's Dabrowski, who sits fourth in the doubles rankings and recently won the U.S. Open doubles title, will also play a pivotal role. She also took home mixed doubles bronze alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.
Canada, the defending champion, received an automatic berth and will face either Great Britain or Germany in their opening match on Sunday at the Martin Carpena Arena. The competition will run until November 20, with teams like Australia, Italy, and wild-card entrant the Czech Republic also earning first-round byes. The Czech Republic was the last team to defend their title in 2016.
Last year's title was a milestone for Canada, with Fernandez and Marina Stakusic leading the team to a 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver's Rebecca Marino will rejoin the team this year, but Bianca Andreescu, who won the 2019 U.S. Open, withdrew to focus on her recovery after enduring multiple injuries this season. Andreescu last represented Canada in the tournament in 2022.
Heidi El Tabakh, Canada's team captain, expressed her pride in the team's achievement last year, emphasizing that it showcased Canada’s tennis prowess to the world. She noted that this year’s lineup, which features Fernandez, Dabrowski, Marino, Stakusic, and the promising Andreescu, is even more formidable and has the potential to reach the top again. El Tabakh affirmed that their main objective is to represent Canada with excellence and maintain the same energy they had during their victorious run.
In 2022, Dabrowski spoke about the collective effort it took to win the title, describing the immense physical and emotional commitment the team invested over the years. The victory, she noted, felt like a welcome relief—a burden lifted after decades of hard work.
Stakusic made a remarkable impression last year. Despite being ranked 258th globally, she was picked over higher-ranked teammates Marino and Eugenie Bouchard in the team’s first match and scored a decisive win against No. 65 Rebeka Masarova. Stakusic continued her impressive form by upsetting Magdalena Frech of Poland, ranked 63rd, to propel Canada to their first semifinal appearance in 35 years. She later secured a victory over Martina Trevisan to end the week with a strong 3-1 record. Now, Stakusic has climbed to No. 128 in the singles rankings, while Marino stands at No. 134, and Andreescu is at No. 167.
Fernandez, who clinched Canada’s historic title by defeating Jasmine Paolini, holds the No. 42 spot in the doubles rankings. Meanwhile, Malaga is also set to host the Davis Cup Final 8 from November 19 to 24. The Canadian men’s team qualified after a narrow 2-1 victory over Great Britain in Manchester.
