Call her “Miss Canada” or “Madame Coupe Billie Jean King.” Centerpiece of the Canadian victory In Sunday’s prestigious team competition in Seville, Quebec’s Leylah Fernandez is undefeated at the tournament this year.
At 21, Leylah has won eight matches in as many matches this year, be it singles or doubles.
Captain Heidi El Tabakh lifts the Billie Jean King Cup trophy alongside Leylah Fernandez. Photo AFP
And the world’s 35th player was particularly spectacular in the closing stages played last week, in which she scored five triumphs, including one against Czech Marketa Vondrousova, the WTA’s seventh seed.
After her victory, Leylah Fernandez ran into Heidi El Tabakh’s arms. Photo AFP
“I’m tired,” Leylah replied with a smile when a journalist asked her at a news conference how she felt after Canada’s first title at the Billie Jean King Cup, which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year.
“But no, no, I’m just kidding! She continued. To be honest, I am extremely happy and excited. […] Finally we can say we are champions and we absolutely deserve it.”
Watch the match ball and Canada’s celebrations here:
A difficult year
This coronation is also a balm in a difficult year for Canadian tennis.
Until Leylah’s win in Hong Kong last month, the Maple Leaf’s mainstays were struggling in the world’s two biggest tennis tournaments, the WTA and the ATP.
Félix Auger-Aliassime also healed some of the wounds left by this difficult season two weeks ago when he was crowned in Basel.
Then, against all expectations, the Canadians, who had never made it past the semi-finals of this tournament, which used to be called the Fed Cup (it was… 35 years ago), became world champions, escaping only a meeting in the final phase.
Leylah Fernandez Photo AFP
“After the US Open [où elle a perdu au premier tour]“I felt more and more confident on the field,” Leylah said. […] I hope that [ce titre] will give me even more confidence for the 2024 season.”
▶ For the first time in history, the prize awarded to the winners of the Billie Jean King Cup will be the same as the prize awarded to the winners of the Davis Cup in two weeks. The Canadians earned a total of $2.4 million on Sunday.