The only 18-year-old Marina Stakusic triumphed over the Italian Martina Trevisan in the first game of the Billie Jean King Cup final on Sunday. Thanks to another victory from the surprising Ontarian, Canada is now just one win away from winning its first title in the prestigious team competition.
Stakusic gave her compatriots a serious chance of a historic coronation by triumphing 7-5, 6-3 over the world’s 43rd-ranked player.
Despite only ranking 258th in the WTA, the young player was the most dominant player on the court in Seville on Sunday, excelling both offensively and defensively.
Above all, Stakusic managed to counter the comeback attempts of her rival, who was twelve years older than her, in both the first and second round.
Marina Stakusic. Photo AFP
It must be said that Stakusic has an excellent winning streak: before flying to Spain, the athlete from Mississauga had won three of his last five tournaments on the ITF circuit in the antechamber of the WTA.
She has now defeated three players who have been ranked in the top 100 in the world since the event began…she who had not yet defeated one.
It’s Leylah’s turn
Quebec’s Leylah Fernandez now has the opportunity to give Canada its first title at the Billie Jean King Cup, a year after the men led by Félix Auger-Aliassime achieved the feat at the Davis Cup.
Fernandez, ranked 35th in the world, will face Jasmine Paolini, ranked 30th, on Sunday.
The player from Laval has been exceptional since the start of the final stages of the competition.
Leylah Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski. Photo AFP
On Saturday, in the semi-final against the Czech Republic, Leylah first helped the Canadians equalize by defeating reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, before qualifying her country for the final by winning the doubles alongside Gabriela Dabrowski.
Rebecca Marino and Eugenie Bouchard are the other two players selected by captain Heidi El-Tabakh.