With a Billie Jean King Cup crew tennis title below her belt, Canadian teenager Marina Stakusic is aiming simply as excessive for her singles profession as she appears to make her mark on the WTA Tour.
“Hopefully within the subsequent few years I will win WTA tournaments [and] Grand Slams,” she mentioned Wednesday. “These have at all times been my objectives since I used to be a child.”
Stakusic, a relative unknown just some weeks in the past, delivered a breakout efficiency on the 12-team competitors in Seville, Spain.
The 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., was a shock choice for singles obligation and delivered three key victories, together with a surprising upset of Forty third-ranked Martina Trevisan within the remaining. Teammate Leylah Fernandez went on to clinch the title over Italy at Estadio la Cartuja.
“All of it occurred actually quick, nevertheless it’s been essentially the most unimaginable finish of season for me,” Stakusic mentioned. “I am so completely satisfied I used to be capable of be part of historical past. It is one thing that’s extraordinarily cool and particular.
“I am excited to maintain going and hold pushing.”
The extra fast objectives for the world’s 265th-ranked girls’s singles participant are cracking the highest 100, transferring from the ITF circuit to the top-flight WTA Tour, and qualifying for the French Open in Could.
“It clearly provides me a lot confidence in figuring out the place my sport is at and taking part in towards these prime gamers,” Stakusic mentioned on a convention name. “Simply figuring out what I’ve to enhance on to get to the very best stage.”
WATCH l Canada wins 1st-ever Billie Jean King Cup title:
Featured VideoLeylah Fernandez led Canada to its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup win — essentially the most prestigious tennis title in girls’s worldwide crew play.
Displaying the poise of a veteran on one of many sport’s largest levels, Stakusic opened with a straight-sets win over Rebeka Masarova of host Spain.
She adopted with a three-set win over one other top-100 opponent, Poland’s Magdalena Frech, earlier than falling to Czechia’s Barbora Krejcikova.
Missed 6 months with torn tendon in knee
“I did really feel like that was one other stage of tennis,” Stakusic mentioned. “I am glad I used to be capable of expertise that to know the place I’ve to get, the place I need to get.”
Stakusic, who has but to play in a WTA Tour primary draw, missed the primary six months of the season resulting from a torn patella tendon in her knee. She reached the ultimate spherical of qualifying on the Nationwide Financial institution Open final summer time and went on to win three ITF tournaments.
WATCH | Stakusic makes mark after being late addition to Canadian crew:
Featured VideoSimply days shy of her nineteenth birthday, Marina Stakusic was known as up on the final minute to play on Canada’s crew on the Billie Jean King Cup in Seville, Spain, and she or he’s already a legend within the making.
With Fernandez a prime risk in singles and Gaby Dabrowski a doubles anchor, many tennis observers anticipated the extra skilled Rebecca Marino or Eugenie Bouchard to get the opposite singles nod for Canada within the best-of-three ties.
As a substitute, captain Heidi el Tabakh turned to Stakusic, who realized of the project on the eve of competitors. Stakusic admitted there have been some early jitters however her confidence and visualization work paid off.
“After I acquired there, I felt like I might been there already 100 instances earlier than,” she mentioned.
Throughout her childhood within the sport, Stakusic watched a few of her teammates attain the game’s highest stage as youngsters or younger adults.
WATCH | Stakusic begins Sunday’s remaining with straight-sets win over Trevisan:
Featured VideoThe Laval, Que. native defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in straight units (6-2, 6-3) to propel Canada to a 2-0 collection win and their 1st-ever Billie Jean King Cup title.
Bouchard was 20 when she reached the Wimbledon remaining in 2014 and Fernandez was 19 when she reached the U.S. Open remaining in 2021.
Bianca Andreescu, who represented Canada final 12 months however was hampered by accidents this 12 months, was additionally 19 when she gained the U.S. Open in 2019.
Stakusic is dreaming huge however is conscious the pursuit of excellence can take time.
“My finish aim is to have a really lengthy profession, a really profitable profession, hopefully staying within the prime for so long as I can,” mentioned Stakusic, who turns 19 on Monday. “I positively do not need to rush something. I will simply see the way it goes and see how my outcomes pan out.”
Stakusic plans to take a break to relaxation a minor stomach harm earlier than tackling pre-season coaching in Florida.
As for the final two weeks, she described them as “a bit loopy.”
“It isn’t one thing that I am used to and rather a lot has come without delay,” she mentioned. “Nevertheless it has been actually cool. I am excited for the long run.”
