Billie Jean King Cup: Back in Canada, eh?

Representing your nation on the largest stage is a big honour, and doing it on dwelling soil simply means that rather more.

Keep in mind the 2010 Olympic Winter Video games?

In Vancouver, British Columbia, the Canadian athletes broke the report for many gold medals gained at a single Winter Olympics (14) and have become the primary host nation to steer the gold medal depend since 1952.

It’s virtually as if when athletes put on the maple leaf crest on their kits, they discover one other stage to their recreation – particularly at dwelling.

And the identical could be stated concerning the Canadian girls’s tennis workforce, who play a few of their greatest tennis within the Nice White North.

All through the years

In 1987, Canada performed host to their first Billie Jean King Cup tie. Staff Canada gained their first two matchups towards the Netherlands (3-0) and the USSR (2-1) earlier than shedding within the quarter-finals to Czechoslovakia (1-2).

The subsequent dwelling ties have been in 1996, 2004, 2006, and 2007. The Canadian workforce had its ups and downs throughout these occasions, however managed to show issues round in Montreal, Quebec, in 2009.

The workforce went on to win six straight ties and held a match report of 20-2 throughout that stretch.

Most not too long ago, Canada performed towards Ukraine at Stade IGA in 2018. After Bianca Andreescu retired from the opening match, Eugenie Bouchard gained the subsequent two contests, and the duo of Gabriela Dabrowski and Andreescu sealed the victory for the Canadians within the deciding doubles rubber.

There’s been numerous success in Canada all through the years, and it will likely be actually thrilling to see what the Canadian workforce has in retailer as they make their technique to British Columbia subsequent week for the primary time since 2007. It’ll even be the primary time the workforce competes in Vancouver since 1996 and the primary time a number of the workforce members play in entrance of dwelling followers.

“I at all times have a lot enjoyable taking part in at these ties and I’m excited to lastly have the ability to do it on dwelling soil. Sporting the Canadian colors on courtroom is at all times an honour and I can’t wait to do it in entrance of a Canadian crowd.”

Leylah Annie Fernandez

To buy tickets for the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers tie between Canada and Latvia (April 15 at 3:45 p.m. and April 16 at 2 p.m.) on the Pacific Coliseum, click on the hyperlink beneath!