It has been a while since Bianca Andreescu donned the red and white in Billie Jean King Cup competition. Somewhat literally, as even the last time she played, the Canadians had to wear their black kits to avoid clashing with Switzerland.
The 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers are taking place this week, with Team Canada making the trip to Astana to take on Kazakhstan on clay. Both teams will be without their biggest star, but that does not mean either squad is weak. In the case of the Canadians, they are sending a well-rounded lineup full of players capable of stepping up in singles and doubles.
Let’s meet the women who will represent Canada this week in the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers.
Bianca Andreescu
- Rank:
- Billie Jean King Cup Appearance: 8th
- Billie Jean King Cup Record: 11-4
- 2026 Record:
Andreescu is expected to serve as the Canadian No. 1 in her first appearance for the Billie Jean King Cup team since the 2022 Finals in Glasgow. On that occasion, she went 1-1 in the group stage, beating Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets but falling to Viktorija Golubic in three as the Canadians finished second in the group, missing the semifinals.
Overall, the 25-year-old has an impressive record for the national team. She is 8-4 in singles and 3-0 in doubles when representing Canada in Billie Jean King Cup competition. This tie will be the second time Andreescu has clashed with Kazakhstan, as she was a part of the team that won 3-2 back in the 2017 World Group II. The Mississaugan went 1-1 in singles in that tie, with her win being the clinching point over Yaroslava Shvedova in straight sets.
So far in 2026, Andreescu has delivered great results on the ITF and WTA 125 Tours, although it has not translated to the WTA main tour. The former US Open champion reached the semifinals or better at all four non-WTA main tour events she has played, winning two titles on the ITF circuit and reaching a WTA 125 final in Austin in March. However, she only has two wins in WTA Tour main draws, although one came last week on clay in Charleston.
Kayla Cross
- Rank:
- Billie Jean King Cup Appearance: 2nd
- Billie Jean King Cup Record: 1-1
- 2026 Record:
In just her second Billie Jean King Cup appearance, Cross appears well-positioned to be the nation’s dual threat in Astana. The 21-year-old is the nation’s second-highest-ranked singles player this week and the top doubles player.
Both of Cross’ career Billie Jean King Cup matches were in doubles last year during the Qualifiers in Tokyo. Partnering Rebecca Marino, they split the matches, scoring a straight-set win over Romania but lost a group-deciding heartbreaker in three sets against Japan.
Cross already has an ITF doubles title to her name in 2026, lifting the trophy at the W100 event in San Diego in February. It was the 12th ITF doubles title of her career already. She should be arriving in Astana with some confidence on the clay, having reached a W50 singles final on the dirt last month.
Ariana Arseneault
- Rank:
- Billie Jean King Cup Appearance: 2nd (Has not played a match)
- 2026 Record:
An Arseneault presence on the Canadian national teams is starting to become a regularity. Ariana got her first Billie Jean King Cup nomination last year for the Qualifiers in Tokyo and her little brother Nicolas earned his first at the Davis Cup earlier this year.
Like Cross, Arseneault has the potential to be a dual threat for Team Canada this week. She is the only player on the team who has won at least one singles and one doubles title so far in 2026. She was crowned champion on home soil in Trois-Rivières last month, the first professional singles title of her career, while picking up a doubles title in The Hague in February.
Her victory in Trois-Rivières thrust Arseneault into contention in the Road to the NBO. She currently sits third in the race, sandwiched between her teammates Cross and Sasha Vagramov. Arseneault is just two points back of second-place Cross and four behind leader Katherine Sebov for that National Bank Open wildcard this summer. The 23-year-old competed in the doubles main draw in Toronto back in 2024, reaching the quarter-finals.
Sasha Vagramov
- Rank:
- Billie Jean King Cup Appearance: 1st
- 2026 Record:
For the third Billie Jean King Cup stage in a row, Canada will have at least one debutant on the team. This time around, it is Alexandra “Sasha” Vagramov suiting up for the first time.
Photo : Sarah-Jade Champagne
Some strong performances on home soil over the last month helped earn Vagramov a spot on Team Canada. The 24-year-old reached three out of four finals across all draws in Trois-Rivières and Victoriaville, winning both doubles titles but falling in the Victoriaville singles final. The former UCLA Bruin in the NCAA beat Arseneault in the semifinals on her way to the title match in Victoriaville.
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If playing FOR your country is similar to playing IN your country, that bodes well for Vagramov in Billie Jean King Cup play as all four of her ITF doubles titles came at events in Canada.
CLICK HERE for everything you need to know about Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers tie with Kazakhstan.
Feature Photo : Sarah-Jade Champagne
