Fernandez and Andreescu Leave Canada in Billie Jean King Cup.
The Canadian Federation has announced the list of players who will participate in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers. The North American team will face Romania and Japan at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo from April 11 to 13.
Ranked second in the world, Canada will have to compete without its two top players, Leylah Fernandez (27th) and Bianca Andreescu (132nd). They will also be without their best doubles player, Ontario's Gabriela Dabrowski (4th in doubles worldwide).
The Canadian captain has called up five players: Rebecca Marino (108th), Marina Stakusic (129th), Victoria Mboko (188th), Kayla Cross (230th), and Ariana Arseneault.
"We are eager to hit the road. Our goal is to reach the competition's final once again.
We have confidence in the team we are taking to Tokyo. It includes some of our brightest rising stars.
We look forward to competing against Romania and Japan," said Canadian captain Heidi El Tabakh to our colleagues at the Quebec newspaper La Presse.
The winners of each group will face off in the finals in November in Shenzhen, China.
