Four-time champions Italy beat Slovenia 2-0 earlier on in Seville in the first semi-final, winning both singles rubbers.Canada, who were competing in the semi-finals for the first time in 35 years, knocked out the fancied Czechs, who have won the competition 11 times—behind only record 18-time winners the United States.
Rookie Stakusic, 18, who recorded career-highlight wins over Spain’s Rebeka Masarova and Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the group, was swept aside in straight sets by world number 10 Krejcikova in the opening singles rubber.However world number 35 Fernandez, who has enjoyed a fine week at the tournament, triumphed over 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova to take the tie to the deciding doubles.
Martina Trevisan eased past Kaja Juvan 7-6 , 6-3 before Jasmine Paolini sealed the win with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 triumph over Tamara Zidansek. Trevisan saved a set point in the tie-break at the end of the first set, and then converted her fourth match point to take the first rubber.