By Canadian Press

Leylah Annie Fernandez wins opener for Canada against Serbia at Billie Jean King Cup

Apr 16, 2021 | 9:21 AM

KRALJEVO, Serbia — Canada’s Leylah Annie Fernandez beat Serbia’s Olga Danilovic 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in the opener of their Billie Jean King Cup playoff tie on Friday.

Fernandez, the top-ranked singles player in the indoor hard-court-tie at No. 72, needed two hours 34 minutes to finish off the 162nd-ranked Danilovic.

The Canadian broke Danilovic in the final game of the match to win.

The 18-year-old Fernandez, from Laval, Que., won six of seven break-point chances. Danilovic was good on just five of 14.

The 230th-ranked Rebecca Marino, from Vancouver, will meet world No. 87 Nina Stojanovic in the second match on Friday.

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Reverse singles matches go on Saturday before Canada’s Carol Zhao and Sharon Fichman face Danilovic and Aleksandra Krunic in a doubles match.

The winner of the best-of-five tie advances to next year’s qualifiers and the loser drops into the Regional Group I.

The Billie Jean King Cup is the new name for the Fed Cup — the top international team tournament in women’s tennis.

Canada’s top singles player, Bianca Andreescu, is sidelined with a foot injury. Gabriela Dabrowski, Canada’s top doubles player, also isn’t competing at the tie.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2021.

The Canadian Press