Billie Jean King Cup: Back in Canada, eh?

Representing your country on the biggest stage is a huge honour, and doing it on home soil just means that much more.

Remember the 2010 Olympic Winter Games?

In Vancouver, British Columbia, the Canadian athletes broke the record for most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics (14) and became the first host nation to lead the gold medal count since 1952.

It’s almost as if when athletes wear the maple leaf crest on their kits, they find another level to their game – especially at home.

And the same can be said about the Canadian women’s tennis team, who play some of their best tennis in the Great White North.

Throughout the years

In 1987, Canada played host to their first Billie Jean King Cup tie. Team Canada won their first two matchups against the Netherlands (3-0) and the USSR (2-1) before losing in the quarter-finals to Czechoslovakia (1-2).

The next home ties were in 1996, 2004, 2006, and 2007. The Canadian team had its ups and downs during those events, but managed to turn things around in Montreal, Quebec, in 2009.

The team went on to win six straight ties and held a match record of 20-2 during that stretch.

Most recently, Canada played against Ukraine at Stade IGA in 2018. After Bianca Andreescu retired from the opening match, Eugenie Bouchard won the next two contests, and the duo of Gabriela Dabrowski and Andreescu sealed the victory for the Canadians in the deciding doubles rubber.

There’s been a lot of success in Canada throughout the years, and it will be really exciting to see what the Canadian team has in store as they make their way to British Columbia next week for the first time since 2007. It’ll also be the first time the team competes in Vancouver since 1996 and the first time some of the team members play in front of home fans.

“I always have so much fun playing at these ties and I’m excited to finally be able to do it on home soil. Wearing the Canadian colours on court is always an honour and I can’t wait to do it in front of a Canadian crowd.”

Leylah Annie Fernandez

To purchase 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.) at the Pacific Coliseum, click the link below!