Tennis lovers! Canada and Latvia will go head-to-head in women’s tennis on April 15 and 16, ahead of the 2022 Finals in November. The Billie Jean King Cup returns to BC for the first time since 2007, when Canada was toppled by Israel in a tie in Kamloops, and for the first time in Vancouver since 1996.
Canada is currently ranked No. 9 in Billie Jean King Cup competition, and Latvia is No. 14. The teams’ rosters will be announced next month. This year, 18 countries will compete in the qualifying event. At the inaugural Billie Jean King Cup Finals in November 2021, Canada posted one win and one loss in the round-robin stage.
[Rebecca Marino & Gabriela Dabrowski play Lara Burel & Alize Cornet of France during Billie Jean King Cup 2021]
“We are very happy to be coming home to Canada, where we haven’t played since 2018,” said Heidi El Tabakh, captain of Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup Team presented by Sobeys, adding, “One thing is certain: we are gearing up for a tough battle against the Latvian squad and remain focused on our mission to qualify for the 2022 Finals.”
“I am thrilled at the prospect of playing a Billie Jean King Cup tie in my home province of British Columbia, which I have not yet experienced in my career,” said Vancouverite Rebecca Marino, former World No. 38. “After two particularly difficult years due to the pandemic, this event will be a unifier for the entire tennis community and will also be a great opportunity for new fans to discover our sport. Tennis is a fast-growing sport in BC and I’m proud that our province was chosen to showcase this tie.”
As of this posting, Billie Jean Cup tickets are still available online.
Top image: Nina Stojanovic (SRB) v Rebecca Marino(CAN), Serbia vs. Canada, 2021; photo © Srdjan Stevanovic/Starsportphoto
