Canada inches toward tennis relegation

Irina-Camelia Begu defeated Toronto’s Katherine Sebov 6-2, 6-4 to give Romania its World Group II Fed Cup first round tie versus Canada 3-1 on Sunday. Canada avoided the sweep as Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Carol Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont., defeated Ana Bogdan and Raluca Olaru 4-6, 6-1, 10-6 in doubles. “We knew it was going to be difficult,” Canadian team coach Sylvain Bruneau said. Canada must win its playoff tie April 21 and 22 to maintain its place in World Group II for 2019. A loss would relegate the Canadians to Americas Zone Group I for next year.