Canada draws into group with Spain, Poland for Billie Jean King Cup | CBC Sports

Canada has drawn into a group with Spain and Poland at the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup.

The international women’s team tennis tournament held its draw on Wednesday.

Canada, third-seeded Spain, and Poland will compete in a round-robin tournament in Seville, Spain, Nov. 7-12.

“This will be the third consecutive year that we are playing in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be back,” said Heidi El Tabakh, Canada’s team captain. “Once again, we will be part of a very good group to start the competition, with Poland playing its second final in a row, and Spain, the third-ranked nation, getting the chance to play at home in front of their fans as hosts.

“I’m confident that we have all the firepower necessary to compete with the best nations in the world and we can’t wait to get on court to prove it.”

WATCH | Canada qualifies for group stage at Billie Jean King Cup:

Canada advances to Billie Jean King Cup finals with win over Belgium

Leylah Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski secured Canada’s spot with a 6-1, 6-2 doubles win over Kirsten Flipkens and Greet Minnen of Belgium Saturday night in Vancouver.

The Billie Jean King Cup is the World Cup of women’s tennis.

Previously known as the Fed Cup, it’s the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with a record 134 nations entered in 2023.

Switzerland beat Australia 2-0 to win last year’s championship.

Canada reached the round-robin stage of the tournament in 2022.

Fernandez falls at Morocco Open

Also, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez is out of the Morocco Open after a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 loss to Peyton Stearns of the United States in second-round action.

The fifth-seeded Fernandez, from Laval, Que., struggled with her serve, committing eight double-faults and defending just four of the 10 break points she faced.

Stearns also had difficulty holding serve, surrendering five breaks on nine chances. But she had the game’s only ace and hit into just three double faults.

It was the first meeting between the players on the WTA Tour.

Fernandez was competing in Morocco as a tuneup for the French Open. Main-draw action at the clay-court Grand Slam begins Sunday.

WATCH | Fernandez loses to Stearns:

Canada’s Fernadez falls to American Stearns in 2nd round of Morocco Open

Peyton Stearns of the United States defeats fifth seed Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Que., 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 and advances to her third quarterfinal of the season.

Zhao out of French Open qualifying

Meanwhile, Canada’s Carol Zhao was eliminated from the women’s French Open qualifying tournament with a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Czechia’s Sara Bejlek.

Bejlek won 73 per cent of first service points and 67 per cent of points on second serve.

Zhao managed to win just 56 per cent of first service points and 55 per cent on second serve.

Bejlek faces just two break points, and saved one. She broke Zhao four times on six chances.

Zhao was the last Canadian left in the French Open qualifying draws.