The North, Central America, and Caribbean qualifying rounds for the ITF World Junior Team Competitions are officially underway at IGA Stadium in Montreal.
Among those who are playing a crucial role in Team Canada’s success is Junior Billie Jean King Cup team captain Sharon Fichman, a familiar face to the Canadian tennis community and fans alike. After a successful playing career on the WTA Tour, she is now feeding her passion for the game in various coaching and mentoring roles with Tennis Canada.
This is her third year as captain of the Junior Billie Jean King Cup team, and she’s loved every second of it. Yes, because the pride of representing her country still drives her, but also because it allows her to keep growing as a person and as a coach.
“I’ve learned to be more open-minded. Every player is different and not everyone receives and perceives things in the same way and has the same needs,” Fichman said during her final preparations in Montreal. “So, you have to tailor things to each player while, at the same time, having standards. So, I feel like it's finding that balance. I've just learned where the areas are to push and where the areas are to just let things go a little bit more, go with the flow.”
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Her thirst for knowledge is one of the reasons she enjoyed competing in team events as a player. Her longevity and impressive 24-10 Billie Jean King Cup record are proof of that.
“I always felt like whenever I played for my country as a part of a team, it always brought out the best in me. I felt like I was playing for something bigger than myself,” Fichman added.
She stressed the importance of these international team competitions at the junior level as a crucial element of players’ development.
“It’s such a privilege to play for Team Canada, especially in an individual sport. You’re always out there on your own, your results are a reflection of you and your work, Fichman explained. “When you get to come together as a team and experience the highs, the lows, the pressure and you do it as a unit, it’s something really special.”
As for her team’s prospects this week, Fichman is excited about what her young squad of first-year U16 players, including Elisabeth Djabourian, Amy Shen, and Isabella Ruyu Yan will bring to the court.
“They've grown up together; they know each other's games, and they understand the dynamic between each other,” Fichman said. “They've all had a lot of success already on the international stage so, they definitely have a lot of match toughness and confidence coming in.”
When she’s not playing the role of captain, Fichman wears many different coaching hats. She assists her long-time coach Simon Bartram at Tennis Canada’s Regional Training Centre in Toronto which is a dream collaboration with someone she has great respect for. She’s also in charge of the 2011-born girls, managing their tours and camps. Plus, she’s involved with the women’s high-performance program when needed and helps out at the Granite Club in Toronto.
Tennis is keeping her busy, but she wouldn’t have it any other way, and the next generation of Canadian tennis stars is benefiting from her knowledge, playing experience, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
Photos by: Sarah-Jäde Champagne
