It was a day of debuts and dominance for Team Canada in Tokyo on Friday as they opened play in Group A at the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers with an impressive 3-0 win over Romania. Not only were they victorious in all three matches, but they also came out on top in the six sets played to complete the clean sweep.
Kicking things off for Canada was 18-year-old Victoria Mboko, who has taken the tennis world by storm since the start of 2025. She certainly didn’t disappoint during the first Billie Jean King Cup match of her career as she easily disposed of world no. 211 Miriam Bianca Bulgaru 6-1, 6-4 in just 66 minutes to give her squad the early advantage.
READ: 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers: Canada to take on Romania and Japan in Tokyo
“When I was first called up to play for the Billie Jean King Cup team in Japan, I was very excited. I’d previously played in the junior Billie Jean King Cup for Canada, so to be here in the actual Billie Jean King Cup feels amazing,” Mboko said after the match. “And to get my first win is even better, in front of the Canadian fans. There are so many of them that came to watch me today. They make it feel like home for me, and I’m just really happy and grateful.”
Marina Stakusic, 20, who announced her arrival at the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals during Canada’s improbable run to the title, kept the winning vibes going with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over world no. 88 Anca Todoni to improve her record in the prestigious international team competition to 4-1.
READ: New Generation Arrives at Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers: Meet Team Canada
Canadian captain Heidi El Tabakh opted to send a second rookie into the fray for the doubles contest as 20-year-old Kayla Cross debuted alongside team veteran Rebecca Marino. The pair defeated Georgia Andreea Craciun and Mara Gae 6-2, 6-4 to put the finishing touches on a perfect day for Canada.
“I’m very pleased with the way things went today. For us, it was the best possible outcome,” said El Tabakh. “Vicky, it was her first time playing and she got the win. Marina went out and won an incredibly tough match, giving us the lead 2-0 which is obviously very nice. Kayla and Rebecca really played a solid doubles match from start to finish against a tough Romanian team. I couldn’t be prouder of all the girls today, really. But the job’s not done, so we got to recover, prepare and come back out on Sunday ready to go.”
Canada will now look to book its place in September’s Finals with a win against the hometown team from Japan. The crucial tie will be streamed live via CBC Sports and CBC Gem beginning at 10 p.m. (Eastern time) on Saturday Night or broadcast courtesy TVA Sports on Sunday morning at 7 a.m. (Eastern time).
Photos by: Sarah-Jäde Champagne
