Grinding through adversity made a big win that much sweeter for some of Canada鈥檚 top women鈥檚 tennis players this weekend.
After losing their highest-ranked player to injury and watching a teammate sidelined, the Canadians persevered to earn a 3-2 win over Belgium at a Billie Jean King Cup qualifier in Vancouver.
It鈥檚 the first time in four meetings that Canada has bested Belgium in the women鈥檚 World Cup of tennis competition.
鈥淎 lot of ups and downs, a total roller-coaster ride,鈥� doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski said of the two-day competition. 鈥淲e thought we were down and out. We weren鈥檛. And I think that just goes to show the resiliency of every single one of our players on this team. It鈥檚 been really special.鈥�
Dabrowski and Leylah Fernandez secured Canada鈥檚 spot in November鈥檚 finals with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Kirsten Flipkens and Greet Minnen in doubles action.
Earlier in the day, Fernandez of Laval, Que., rallied for a gritty 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Ysaline Bonaventure and Minnen downed Toronto鈥檚 Katherine Sebov 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Canada breezed through the first four points of Saturday鈥檚 one-hour, four-minute doubles match, taking a 1-0 lead and didn鈥檛 turn back. The two sides rallied several times, with the home nation consistently finding ways to come out on top.
Dabrowski showed why she sits seventh in the world women鈥檚 doubles rankings midway through the first set, deftly tapping a backhanded shot over the net to end an extended back-and-forth and put Canada up 5-1.
Playing her third match in two days, Fernandez looked anything but tired, darting across the court to scoop up balls and blast them back at the Belgians using her powerful forehand.
鈥淧laying with (Dabrowski) is always a privilege,鈥� Fernandez said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 such a great doubles specialist. She sees the court so beautifully and I get to experience that with her. It鈥檚 something I would like to learn and get better at along the way.鈥�
Fernandez 鈥� No. 50 in the WTA鈥檚 singles rankings 鈥� cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Yanina Wickmayer on Friday, but ran into trouble early in her singles match against Bonaventure.
The 86th-ranked Belgian, who captured a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Vancouver鈥檚 Rebecca Marino on Friday, took a 4-1 lead in the first set as Fernandez fought to find her serve, chalking up four double faults in the first five games.
As the match progressed, the 20-year-old Canadian began mixing up her shots and luring her opponent to the net, forcing errors. She cut the deficit to 4-3 before Bonaventure took the set.
The players repeatedly traded points across a tightly contested second, with neither stealing the momentum.
Fernandez took a 6-5 lead thanks to a challenge that ruled Bonaventure鈥檚 shot just out of play. The Canadian crowd roared as she returned to the court from a changeover and Fernandez responded by breaking Bonaventure in the deciding game.
The former U.S. Open finalist continued to dominate in the third jumping out to a 3-0 cushion.
Bonaventure scored a break point late in the set to make it 5-2, but Fernandez responded with a break of her own to clinch the two-hour, 26-minute match.
Bonaventure was emotional after the doubles match, wiping tears from her cheeks as she spoke to reporters.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very disappointing because I have the feeling that I was so close to bring the point for the team,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 frustrating. We all did so good and we had such a great week together, such a great team and a good atmosphere. So it鈥檚 frustrating because we really wanted to win this one. I鈥檓 sad.鈥�
The second singles showdown of the day saw Minnen down Sebov in three sets.
The match was initially scheduled as a battle between Marino and Wickmayer but both players were swapped just before the match after fighting through ailments on Friday.
Marino felt ill during her match and Canadian captain Heidi El Tabakh didn鈥檛 want to risk putting her on the court Saturday.
鈥淩ebecca played an extremely tough match. It was draining physically and mentally,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 thought playing Kat, someone who鈥檚 fresh, was a good decision.鈥�
Wickmayer rolled her ankle Friday, an injury that made serving painful.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to lose but another thing to get injured and not be able to help your team on the second day,鈥� Wickmayer said. 鈥淪o it was a really tough day for me, but I tried to be there and support the team as much as I could. 鈥� We all gave it everything we got. Nothing else we could do, really.鈥�
Sebov was a late addition to Canada鈥檚 roster, replacing Canada鈥檚 top-ranked player Bianca Andreescu after she tore two tendons in her ankle at the Miami Open on March 27.
Andreescu, the world No. 27, sat courtside in Vancouver, cheering on her teammates.
The 24-year-old Sebov climbed to a career-high 136th spot in the rankings last week after a loss to Swiss powerhouse Belinda Bencic at the Charleston Open on April 5.
She admitted, though, that playing in front of a Canadian crowd was 鈥渙verwhelming.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 used to more of a quiet setting, being on court 17 and no one鈥檚 watching,鈥� Sebov said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 a little bit of an adjustment, just staying focused even though there鈥檚 a lot going on, a lot of noise and lights flickering. I think it鈥檚 just something I need to get used to.鈥�
The Vancouver qualifier is one of nine being held around the globe this week, with winners advancing to the finals in a yet-to-be announced location.
Last year, Canada swept Latvia in a qualifier and advanced to the finals in Glasgow, where they topped Italy before falling to Switzerland in group play. Switzerland went on to win the world title.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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