Team Canada heads into Day 2 of the Billie Jean Cup Qualifiers with their heads held high

It may be cloudy in Vancouver today, but it was a sunny day yesterday for Team Canada, who started off their BJK Cup Qualifiers with a win, putting them up 1-0. A tough three-set match would give Team Belgium a point and level the field, but the Canadian women are feeling solid heading into today’s matches.

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“We’re tied at 1-1, but I really believe that we’re in a good position,” said Canada’s Captain, Heidi El Tabakh, who has been with the Canadian team since 2019, posting a perfect record in winning ties with the team.

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The top two singles players available on the team, Leylah Annie Fernandez and Vancouver native Rebecca Marino, were both in action on Friday, and they look to continue and build on their form in Saturday’s matches.

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20-year-old Leylah Annie Fernandez had what was probably the best performance since before her injury at the French Open just last year. In a match that just squeaked past an hour, Fernandez dismantled her Belgian opponent, Yanina Wickmayer, 6-0, 6-3.

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Fernandez dictated the pace right from the get-go. “She didn’t give me any time to play my game,” said Wickmayer after the match.

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Wickmayer wasn’t worried, though. “We’re just here to fight for every point and try to be our best that we can, and that’s what I tried to do today,” she said. “I fought for every point, and I just have to admit that my opponent was better today, so that doesn’t mean that we’re going to change anything for the next games. We’re just going to go out there and believe in ourselves and stay positive and fight for every point.”

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She was right, as her teammate Ysaline Bonaventure was busy stirring up a comeback of her own against Canada’s Rebecca Marino. Marino had been up 6-4, 4-1 in the match, looking like she was on a roll and on her way to winning in straight sets.

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It was later revealed in the post-match press conference that Marino started to feel a bit nauseous and not at her best, but she took a “Gravol-like” medication to help with her stomach and, in the final set, started to feel a bit better and make a bit of a pushback.

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Ultimately, Bonaventure successfully defeated her 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Marino isn’t feeling too down about that loss, though. 

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“That’s sort of the beauty of a team competition like this; you get a second crack at it the next day,” she said. “I’m also really proud of that match; I feel like I fought back and forth until the end.”

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Marino is originally from Vancouver, and she had the crowd behind her the entire time. They lifted her up with warm cheers, and the impact in the arena was felt. “It was incredible. I wasn’t necessarily feeling my best, but knowing that I had quite a few people in the crowd that I recognize and know quite well, friends, family, people from the tennis community,” Marino remarked. “It definitely inspired me to dig a little deeper because that’s what we play for, we play for not just ourselves, but for everybody that is there.”

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The city of Vancouver looks to continue their warm support and cheer on Team Canada as they try to secure the win over Team Belgium today. For Saturday’s schedule, refer here.

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Follow Homestand Sports and our tennis reporter Crina Mustafa for coverage from Vancouver throughout this weekend.