While the professionals are getting ready for the senior Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga, Spain this week, Canada’s juniors are already in action at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Juniors Finals in Antalya, Turkey.
Team Canada has been drawn in Group 3 with Australia, Czechia, and Peru. The Canadians qualified for the Finals with victories over Mexico and Puerto Rico in the Americas qualifying back in April.
This week in Turkey, Team Canada includes Nadia Lagaev, Canada’s No. 1-ranked junior, Charlize Celebrini, and Anna Tabunshchyk. Former WTA doubles world No. 21 Sharon Fichman is the captain of the Canadian team.
Canada has already played their first tie in Antalya. On Monday, they lost 2-1 to Australia. Lagaev managed to keep the Canadians alive with a straight-set win in the second singles match after Celebrini lost the opener, but the pair were defeated 6-3, 6-7(2), 10-5 in the decisive doubles match.
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Wins in the remaining two ties will be critical for Canada to keep their title hopes alive. The top two nations from each group advance to the quarter-finals, which begin on Friday. Canada plays Czechia on Tuesday in what could be a do-or-die matchup for the Canadians as Czechia defeated Peru in their opening tie on Monday. Canada plays Peru on Wednesday.
If Canada does not finish in the top two in their group, that is not the end of play for youngsters as all 16 teams in the competition will play for their final placement. Finishing in the top two and advancing to the quarter-finals would keep Canada’s title hopes alive but if they fail to advance, they would be inserted into a consolation draw for ninth place.
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Canada has never reached the final of the Billie Jean King Cup Juniors. The Davis Cup juniors team has reached the final twice, winning the title in 2015 with Félix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, and Benjamin Sigouin.
