Canada beats Italy to win Billie Jean King Cup for first time

Canada clinched its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup title with a 2-0 victory over Italy in Seville, Spain. Marina Stakusic, ranked 258th in the world, secured the win with a stunning 7-5, 6-3 victory over Italy’s No. 43 Martina Trevisan. In the following match, Leylah Fernandez, the 20th-ranked player and 2021 U.S. Open runner-up, completed Canada’s historic win by defeating Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3.

Fernandez maintained a perfect record throughout the tournament, claiming four victories, while 18-year-old Stakusic, who had not previously defeated a top 100 opponent, secured three wins in Spain. Canada had previously ousted 11-time champion Czech Republic in the semifinals, while Italy advanced past Slovenia to reach their first final appearance since 2013.

The 12-team BJK Cup Finals offered a record $9.6 million in prize money, including $2.4 million for the champions, matching the men’s Davis Cup. The Canada men’s team is the current Davis Cup champion, and with this win, Canada became the 13th nation to win the Billie Jean King Cup, following Switzerland’s triumph in the previous year.

The women’s teams competed in round-robin groups, with the United States being eliminated by the Czech Republic in a group that also featured defending champion Switzerland. The BJK Cup Finals followed closely on the heels of the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, which showcased the top eight players on the tour, including champion Iga Swiatek.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis