Canada started quickly in the qualifiers for Japan’s Billie Jean King Cup on Friday.
Victoria Mboko, 18, won the first game in Canada by defeating Miriam Bianca Bulgaru 6-1, 6-4. The win lasted an impressive start for Mboko, who now scored 29-2 in all competitions of the season.
“I was so excited when I was initially called to play for the Billie Jean King Cup team in Japan,” Mboko said in a press release shared by the Canadian Tennis Court. “I used to play for the Billie Jean King Cup, a junior in Canada, so my first win became even more important in the actual Billie Jean King Cup.
Marina Stakusic, 20, then defeated Anca Todoni 6-4, 6-3, following Mboko’s victory. Stakusic saved Todoni five of six breakout points and transformed four of her own eight opportunities. She raised BJKC’s record to 4-1.
In the doubles, Rebecca Marino and Kayla Cross beat Georgia Andreea Craciun and Mara Gae 6-2, 6-4 to defeat Canada 6-2, 6-4.
The next one for Canada is a clash with Japan’s host country on Sunday. Japan and Romania will meet on Saturday.
The winner of this three-team team will automatically qualify for the Chinese Billy Gold Cup final in September, while the other two teams will enter the playoffs to compete for the finals.
