Canadian women set for stiff challenge from host Kazakhstan in Billie Jean King Cup qualifier
Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Tenth-ranked singles star Victoria Mboko and second-ranked doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski headline the Canadian roster for the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers next month in Kazakhstan.
Mboko, from Burlington, Ont., and Dabrowski, from Ottawa, will be joined by Bianca Andreescu and Marina Stakusic, both from Mississauga, Ont., and Kayla Cross of London, Ont., Tennis Canada said Thursday.
“We’ve brought together an outstanding team for these qualifiers, and we’re excited to carry the momentum we built in Mexico into this next stage,” said interim captain Marie-Eve Pelletier. “Kazakhstan is a fantastic squad and one of the top teams in the competition.
“So, we know we’ll have to bring our very best to earn a spot in the finals. It will be a tough challenge, but we’re ready to compete and give it our all.”
The best-of-five tie will be played April 10-11 on an indoor clay court at the Beeline Arena in Astana.
Fourth-ranked Canada reached the qualifiers by winning its group at the 2025 playoffs with victories over Denmark and Mexico. Ninth-ranked Kazakhstan reached the eight-team finals last year but fell to the U.S. in the quarterfinals.
Canada defeated Kazakhstan 3-2 in their lone head-to-head meeting in 2017 at Montreal.
The winning team will advance to the 2026 finals in September in China. The losing team will compete in the November playoffs.
Canada’s Victoria Mboko defeats Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-1 at the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs in Monterrey, Mexico. The Canadian women win their group with victories over Denmark and Mexico and advance to the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.
Mboko is 16-4 this season and reached the final at the WTA 1000 event in Doha. The 19-year-old also reached the final at a 500-level tour stop in Adelaide and reached the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Dabrowski, 33, is 14-3 in doubles play this season. She won a 1000-level title in Dubai to rise to a career-high No. 2 in the world rankings.
The 25-year-old Andreescu, a former U.S. Open champion, won ITF titles this year in Vero Beach and Bradenton, Fla. The world No. 165 makes her BJK Cup return for the first time since 2022.
Stakusic, 21, is ranked 130th in the world while Cross, the world No. 131 in doubles, plays on the Louisiana State University women’s tennis team. The school is ranked fourth in NCAA Division I.
Pelletier is filling in for captain Heidi El Tabakh, who is unavailable due to personal reasons.
Ties will consist of two singles matches on the opening day, followed by a doubles match and two more singles matches on Day 2.
The Canadian team won the tournament in 2023.
Source link
