China to host BJK Cup Finals for next three years

Getty Images
  • 23 January 2025, 12:30 GMT
Updated Just now

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be held in Shenzhen, China for the next three years.

China, reigning champions Italy and six qualifiers will contest the week-long Finals in 2025, with a date yet to be confirmed.

Three venues in Shenzhen are being considered – including the 12,000 capacity Shenzhen Bay Sports Arena, which staged the WTA Finals in 2019.

Prague, Glasgow, Seville and Malaga were chosen as hosts for the first four editions, but organisers say a global event of this nature cannot stay in Europe for too long.

“The announcement demonstrates our commitment to bringing the passion and excitement of nation v nation team tennis to markets around the world,” Billie Jean King said.

In the tournament, formerly called the Fed Cup, 18 teams split into six groups of three in qualifying, with the group winners progressing to the Finals.

Great Britain have been drawn alongside Germany and the Netherlands in Group F for April’s qualifying competition.

Canada, who won the competition in 2023, meet Japan and Romania in Group A, with Brazil, the Czech Republic and Spain competing in Group B.

Slovakia, USA and Denmark are in Group C, while fourth-seeded Australia take on Kazakhstan and Colombia in Group D.

Poland, Switzerland and Ukraine make up Group E.

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals have traditionally taken place in November, but could be brought forward to September or October, when a run of tournaments are taking place in Asia.

This would shorten the season and avoid players having to travel back to China in November, but it also means the Finals taking place in the same week as established WTA Tour events.

Crowds at the Finals have been disappointing in recent years, despite strong European representation.

Cost and visa issues will further deter these fans from travelling and, with Japan and Kazakhstan the only other Asian nations with a chance to qualify, much will depend on interest from the Chinese.

The star attraction for them will be the world number five and Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen.

Related topics

Verified by MonsterInsights