MATCH REPORT | 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals as Leylah FERNANDEZ seals opening win for Canada after tiebreak thriller over SORRIBES TORMO

With the absence of Bianca Andreescu this week,Leylah Fernandez takes centre stage at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and secured the second point in a near three hour battle against Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Canada saw off Spain 2-0 to open their campaign in Group C, with only the doubles now to come to make it a shut out on day one with Italy also not needing the doubles decider in seeing off France.

Fernandez led from the front and dug deep to seal it 7-6, 7-6 in two tie breaks after nearly three hours on court as she battled for every point in superb fashion.

The opening set was most of the match as it went one hour and 28 minutes. Fernandez celebrated a winner at 7-7 in the tie-break only for Hawkeye to overrule it, but the celebrations were warranted as she went on to win the next three points.

The second tie-break was also a closely ran affair as Fernandez produced a supreme looping return which made Sorribes Tormo slice it into the net as Fernandez fell to her knees with delight in sealing the win.

Her record now stands at 12-2 in the competition in singles and doubles play as she continues to be Canada's leading light in the Billie Jean King Cup. But this was after a teenager sealed the opening point.

Previously Canada had gone 1-0 up with Marina Stukusic enjoying a debut to remember defeating Rebeka Masarova winning 6-3, 6-1 against the World No.63 to seal the biggest win of her career. The 18-year-old had previously not had a win so big since she defeated Jaimee Fourlis in Granby last year but showed incredible poise and confidence to down the Spaniard in a match that she expected to win.

It is the first win against Spain for more than 50 years since 1972 and they will go into the second tie tomorrow in Group C against Poland propelled into pole position to reach the knockout round.