Canada beats Mexico in Billie Jean King Cup playoffs to advance to 2026 qualifiers

Canada advanced to the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup qualifying round on Sunday by defeating host Mexico at Club Sonoma to win the Group A playoff title.

Toronto’s Victoria Mboko beat Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes, while American-Canadian Carson Branstine swept the best-of-three finals with a 6-3, 7-6 victory over Julia Garcia.

If Canada loses a singles match, it will have to play a must-win doubles match against Ottawa’s Gabriella Dabrowski and Mboko against Juliana Olmos and Sarasuya.

Canada beat Denmark 2-1 on Saturday to set up a winner-take-all showdown on Sunday. Mexico beat Denmark 2-1 on Friday.

American-Canadian Carson Branstein got off to a good start against Mexico with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) singles victory over Julia Garcia.

Branstine, who competed for the United States before moving to Canada, her mother’s birth country, in 2017, defeated the 22-year-old crowd favorite in one hour and 39 minutes.

Branstine ended up with 1 ace, 3 double faults, 3 out of 4 break points saved and 2 out of 5 break points won. She won 65% of her serve points and won 2 out of 10 return games.

Garcia ended up with two aces, no double faults, saved 3 of 5 break points, won 1 of 11 break points, and won only 1 of 11 return games.

Mboko ended her match with five aces, three double faults and five break point conversions. The young Canadian won 89 per cent of his first serve points, won all of his service games and won five of his seven return games.