Canada will continue Group A play on Sunday against host Japan

The Canadian women’s tennis team triumphed 3-0 over Romania in their Billie Jean King Cup qualification match at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo on Friday.

Victoria Mboko from Toronto led the charge, securing a 6-1, 6-4 victory against Miriam Bianca Bulgaru.

Next, Marina Stakusic from Mississauga, Ont., followed up with a solid 6-4, 6-3 win over Anca Todoni.

In doubles action, Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino and Kayla Cross from London, Ont., teamed up for a 6-2, 6-4 win over Romania’s Georgia Andreea Craciun and Mara Gae.

Canada will continue Group A play on Sunday, facing host nation Japan.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the team today,” said Canadian captain Heidi el Tabakh. “But our work isn’t over. We need to recover and come back strong on Sunday.”

The winner of the group will earn a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in November.

The Billie Jean King Cup is the premier international team competition in women’s tennis, formerly known as the Fed Cup. The 2024 Billie Jean King Cup qualification matches are part of the ongoing process where countries compete to earn a spot in the finals held later in the year. The Canadian women’s team is currently in Group A of the qualifying stage, aiming to secure a spot in the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup Finals scheduled for November 2024.

In this qualification round, Canada faced Romania in Tokyo, Japan, at the Ariake Coliseum. The Canadian squad was led by captain Heidi el Tabakh, and they delivered a dominant performance in their first match against Romania. Here’s a breakdown of the match results:

• Victoria Mboko (Toronto) opened the competition with a strong performance, defeating Miriam Bianca Bulgaru of Romania with a score of 6-1, 6-4. Mboko, an up-and-coming Canadian talent, showcased her skills on the international stage, taking control of the match early on.
• Following Mboko, Marina Stakusic from Mississauga, Ontario, continued the momentum, securing a 6-4, 6-3 win over Anca Todoni. Stakusic’s victory gave Canada a commanding 2-0 lead in the tie.
• In the doubles match, Rebecca Marino (Vancouver) and Kayla Cross (London, Ontario) completed the sweep with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Georgia Andreea Craciun and Mara Gae of Romania.