Bouchard to join Team Canada for Fed Cup in Montreal
Tennis Canada confirmed on Sunday that Eugenie Bouchard will play for Team Canada in the Fed Cup April 18-19 in Montreal.
Canada will be taking on Romania in a bid to stay in the elite World Group for next season, after losing to the Czech Republic in the first round of the top annual women’s national team tennis tournament.
The loss to the top-rated Czechs at Québec City in February – without Bouchard – put Canada in a position to defend its place in the first tier of the tournament. They’ll stay there so long as they win at least three matches against Romania in Montreal.
Eugenie Bouchard helped Canada to the Fed Cup World Group elite eight for the first time.
In a Tennis Canada release Bouchard said “It’s special to me that next week’s Fed Cup tie is taking place in my hometown of Montreal. I hope that everyone comes out to watch some great tennis and support Team Canada.” Tickets are available to purchase online for both days.
Bouchard joins a team that includes fellow Montrealer Francoise Abanda, Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and Toronto’s Sharon Fichman. Despite struggling for form in 2015 with recent early WTA tour exits in Charleston and Miami, Bouchard is by far the highest ranked player in the competition at world number seven.
Francoise Abanda returns a shot against Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic in February.
The top Romanian coming to Montreal is ranked 36th in the world, that’s Irina-Camelia Begu. Although world no. 62 Alexandra Dulgheru gives Romania depth, as does Andreea Mitu who is just off the top 100. Raluca Olaru rounds out the visiting squad. Romania’s best player, no. 3 Simona Halep, will be missing from Montreal.
The best-of-five will be decided by four singles matches and a doubles rubber if it goes to a fifth tie.
Canada’s men meanwhile, will be playing in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in July after ousting Japan in the first round of that competition on Canadian soil back in early March.
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