{"id":24339,"date":"2023-11-14T02:17:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T02:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/canada-complete-team-double-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-11-14T02:17:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T02:17:13","slug":"canada-complete-team-double-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/canada-complete-team-double-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada complete team double | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nSEVILLE:
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Canada completed a team-tennis double on Sunday as their women took the Billie Jean King Cup<\/a> for the first time, winning both singles rubbers to build an unassailable lead over Italy.<\/p>\n

Canada’s men are the reigning Davis Cup champions after winning their first title in Malaga last November.<\/p>\n

Marina Stakusic, an 18-year-old, opened the final in Seville with a 7-5 6-3 victory over Martina Trevisan, capping a stunning week for the rookie.<\/p>\n

“We took a risk by selecting a young player, and it paid off,” said Canada’s coach Nathalie Tauziat.<\/p>\n

Leylah Fernandez<\/a> then beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3, to spark jubilation from the Canadian team.<\/p>\n

“I’m extremely happy, ecstatic,” said Fernandez.<\/p>\n

Canada, captained by Heidi El Tabakh, became the 13th nation to win the Billie Jean King Cup and the second consecutive new champion after Switzerland won in Glasgow 12 months ago.<\/p>\n

Stakusic, ranked 258th in the world, beat three top 100 players this week, including Trevisan.<\/p>\n

Fernandez defeated Czech Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the singles semi-finals rubber on Saturday before playing again in the decisive doubles, as she too shone in the south of Spain.<\/p>\n

“Leylah played her role as leader and that made all the difference,” said Tauziat. “She prepares like a boxer, ready to enter the ring, to receive blows and to give them.”<\/p>\n

Fernandez said the\u00a0 victory had taken time.<\/p>\n

“You know, it’s the first time that Canada has ever won the Billie Jean King Cup. I can finally say this \u2013 we’re world champions, and we rightfully deserve it,” she said.<\/p>\n

“We worked really hard the past years, and, you know, I think every year, as I said before, we just keep improving.<\/p>\n

“It’s showing on the tennis court. It’s showing in competition, individual competitions. Now it has shown on the biggest stage in the world.”<\/p>\n

Italy continued their 10-year drought in the competition, known as the Fed Cup until 2020, having won the last of their four titles in 2013.<\/p>\n

“It’s been a very tough week for me, mentally and of course physically,” said Trevisan.<\/p>\n

“We spent a lot of energy on court and of course out of the court. Maybe today my physical energy was, well, a little bit low.<\/p>\n

“I’m a player that need to be very fast on court, and today I wasn’t too much \u2013 it wasn’t enough.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n