Tennis Canada is gearing up for its Billie Jean King Cup qualifying match in Kazakhstan, albeit without two pivotal players.
Victoria Mboko and Marina Stakusic have pulled out of the competition due to injury concerns, as announced by the organization on Saturday.
Ariana Arseneault will step in to the squad alongside Bianca Andreescu, Gabriela Dabrowski, and Kayla Cross.
Mboko stated that a medical procedure is the reason for her withdrawal.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must withdraw from the Billie Jean King Cup tie in Kazakhstan,” Mboko expressed in a statement. “Recently, I’ve been dealing with severe dental pain and will be undergoing surgery soon to have my wisdom teeth removed. Consequently, I won’t be able to travel to Kazakhstan and will miss this important match.”
“Representing Canada is a tremendous honor — I wish my teammates the best of luck during this competition, and I look forward to rejoining them later this year.”
The 19-year-old affirmed that playing for Canada is always a priority for her.
Stakusic is also facing a setback, as she deals with a back injury that necessitated her withdrawal from the tie.
“I’m truly saddened to miss the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers, but I believe stepping back is the best choice for the team since I’m not at my best physically,” she stated. “It’s an incredible honor to represent Team Canada, and I cherish the time spent with the team each year.”
