Leylah Fernandez leads Canada into BJK Cup final vs. Italy

SEVILLE, Spain — In a captivating match, Leylah Fernandez led Canada into the Billie Jean King Cup final by defeating Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. Fernandez then played a pivotal role in securing a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in a decisive doubles match on Saturday.

Fernandez’s impressive performance included a hard-fought victory over Vondrousova with a final score of 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, which leveled the playing field for Canada. Barbora Krejcikova had previously given the Czechs an early lead by defeating Marina Stakusic 6-2, 6-1.

Following her singles match, Fernandez swiftly transitioned to the indoor hardcourt in Seville, where she teamed up with Gabriela Dabrowski to defeat Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova with a score of 7-5, 7-6 (3).

Canada will now face Italy in the final on Sunday, after Italy emerged victorious in their match against Slovenia, winning both singles matches.

Krejcikova, who boasts an impressive record including the 2021 French Open championship and several major doubles titles, had previously partnered with Siniakova to achieve success.

Italy’s successful semi-final match marked their first final appearance in the competition in a decade.

Martina Trevisan’s victory over Kaja Juvan in the opening singles match, followed by Jasmine Paolini’s win over Tamara Zidansek, propelled Italy to their well-deserved final spot.

Italian captain Tathiana Garbin expressed her pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “What they have done, it’s something incredible. We want always to push ourselves to the limit, and we try to dream again tomorrow.”

Trevisan’s emotional response, including tears of joy, after her hard-fought victory showcased the intense emotions involved in the competition. “I had to be happy because I won the set, but I was crying,” she said. “Too many emotions to manage. But the heart and head were there, so I’m very happy.”

In the second match, Zidansek struggled as her serve faltered, ultimately leading to her defeat and Slovenia’s loss.

It was a monumental moment for Slovenia as they participated in their first-ever semifinal at the competition.