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BJK Cup Finals Relocated to Shenzhen as Qualifying Rounds Commence

BJK Cup Finals Relocated to Shenzhen as Qualifying Rounds Commence

As Team GB prepared to take on Germany on Friday in Qualifiers Group F, news that the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals will be held from 16 – 21 September at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena in Shenzhen, China, broke on Thursday.

It was such a difficult match and super happy to bring the win for the team. It’s a different atmosphere. Everyone is cheering for you and we have a great team spirit. Elena Rybakina

The ITF announced that the rescheduling of the Finals from November to September aligns the event with the start of the Asia swing, supporting player calendar flow on the WTA Tour.

The Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena, known as the ‘Spring Cocoon’, is an iconic sports venue that previously hosted the 2019 WTA Finals and other major sporting events.

The announcement came as the Qualifiers got under way, with 6 groups of 3 teams competing across 3 days to determine which nations will advance to the September Finals, where they will join hosts China and 2024 world champions Italy.

The Draw for the Finals will take place on 12 May 2025, with further details to be announced soon.

The Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Play-offs will be played the week commencing 10 November 2025.

As may be expected for a nation with 2 Top 25-ranked singles players, Kazakhstan clinched their opening tie in Group D event in Brisbane, defeating Australia 2-1.

In the opening singles match, Yulia Putintseva made her experience tell for a 6-2 6-1 win over BJK Cup debutante Maya Joint, before World No 10 Elena Rybakina overcame some inspired play from Kimberly Birrell for a 6-3 7-6(4) victory to clinch the tie, despite some inconsistency in her game.

Putintseva superbly mixed up play to overcome her 18-year-old opponent, who could not find a way through in a match that was more closely contested than the score might suggest.

“I am very happy with my level and hope I inspired the team. Every game was a challenge, but it was one of those days when everything was working,” said Putintseva after her 21st BJK Cup singles win.

Rybakina recovered from a break down in the first set and a double break in the second with two periods of impressive play, collecting 20 of 21 points to take the first set and then 15 of 17 to draw level in the second, going on to win the tiebreak and, ultimately, the match.

“It was such a difficult match and super happy to bring the win for the team,” said Rybakina, who has now won 8 of 9 matches in the Billie Jean King Cup. “It’s a different atmosphere. Everyone is cheering for you and we have a great team spirit.”

Australia’s Storm Hunter & Ellen Perez defeated Anna Danilina & Zhibek Kulambayeva, 6-3 6-4, in the doubles rubber to clinch a match win, which was a satisfying moment for Hunter, who has just returned after 11 months out following an achilles injury in training for last year’s Qualifier against Mexico here.

Kazakhstan would secure its spot in the Finals Shenzhen with victory over Colombia, who are missing their two leading players, on Friday, threatening Australia’s record of being ever-present at the BJK Cup Finals under the current format.

BJK Cup Finals Relocated to Shenzhen as Qualifying Rounds Commence

Kazakhstan defeated Australia in the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier Group D tie in Brisbane on Thursday

© Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Poland made it 3 wins from 3 against Switzerland, as they kicked off Group E in style at home in Radom.

Despite being without World No 2 Iga Swiatek, Poland’s Magda Linette and Katarzyna Kawa combined to wrap up the tie with 2 singles wins.

Later, Martyna Kubka & Maja Chwalinska secured the clean sweep by winning a 3-set doubles battle against Jil Teichmann & Celine Naef, 6-3 4-6 6-2.

Linette sealed the deal with her 6-4 6-3 triumph over Viktorija Golubic in the 2nd singles match, proving a class above by hitting 22 winners to 13 unforced errors, and taking all 3 of her break point opportunities.

The team who tops the group, which also includes Ukraine, will advance to the Finals, and Poland will have high hopes of progressing, especially after their historic run to the semi-finals last November.

Earlier on Thursday, Kawa gave Poland the perfect start by defeating Teichmann in 3 tight sets, her 1st ever solo victory in the competition, recovering after letting the first set slip through her fingers, to take the match 5-7 6-4 6-2 in just over 2 hours.

The 32-year old may be ranked well below Teichmann after slipping outside the Top 150, but despite losing the opening set, she would not be beaten.

“It’s an amazing feeling, it’s the first time I did it in singles, it’s really precious for me,” a delighted Kawa said after. “I’ve been waiting so long for this one, fighting so hard to get here and to get the chance to play. To win these points, I’m really, really happy.”

She added that her doubles partnership with Swiatek last season, where they combined to help Poland reach the Last 4 in Malaga, gave her a lot of confidence to take into Thursday’s tie.

“I think [that] experience was important for me because I have played on big stage – even though it was doubles. Having Iga on my side you know, you don’t want to mess it up. She’s a great player. I’m really proud of myself that I played a really good level.”

BJK Cup Finals Relocated to Shenzhen as Qualifying Rounds Commence

Linda Noskova defeated World No 17 Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets and secured victory for Czechia against Brazil in their opening Group B tie.

In Group B, Linda Noskova produced a clinical display to defeat World No 17 Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets and secure victory for Czechia against Brazil in their opening match.

After a closely contested opening set, Noskova moved through the gears in the second to complete a 6-4 6-0 win, giving the Czechs an unassailable 2-0 lead in Ostrava.

Noskova was the aggressor throughout, finishing with 29 winners, including 8 aces, the 20-year-old’s serve being particularly impressive in the second set, surrendering just 4 points as she ratcheted up the pressure.

“Beatriz is a great player, it’s always tricky playing a left-hander,” said Noskova after the match. “I think I was a little bit more aggressive on my serve in the second set, but I was just trying to play my game the whole time.”

Earlier in the day, Marie Bouzkova, playing in front of home fans for the first time in the competition, withstood a spirited second-set comeback from Laura Pigossi to prevail 6-0 7-6(3) in the tie’s first singles match.

In the doubles, Haddad Maia teamed up with former World No 9 Luisa Stefani to gain a modicum of revenge over Noskova & Tereza Valentova, edging out the young pairing, 6-4 7-6(4).

Thursday’s result now leaves Czechia in a strong position to top Group B and reach the Finals for the 5th time.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s hopes of becoming the first South American nation to reach a Billie Jean King Cup Finals lie in the balance heading into their second tie against Spain on Friday.

BJK Cup Finals Relocated to Shenzhen as Qualifying Rounds Commence

The Netherlands completed a clean sweep over Germany to take a first BJK Cup win over their neighbours in 35 years on Thursday in The Hague.

In Group F, the Netherlands completed a clean sweep over Germany to take a first BJK Cup win over their neighbours in 35 years.

Suzan Lamens secured the crucial second point for the home nation with a marathon 3-6 6-3 7-5 comeback victory over Tatjana Maria, following teammate Eva Vedder’s straight sets win in Thursday’s opening match.

Lamens then returned with Demi Schuurs to add a final flourish in the doubles, wrapping up the tie thanks to a 7-6 7-5 win against Anna-Lena Friedsam & Laura Siegemund.

Earlier in the day, Vedder had put the Netherlands ahead, after kicking off the first Billie Jean King Cup meeting between the nations since 1992 with a 6-3 6-1 upset of Jule Niemeier.

Netherlands are aiming to reach the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the first time this week, as they take on Germany and Great Britain in Group F.

Team GB, though, on paper, are the favourites to win the group and face Germany on Friday and the Netherlands on Saturday, but must win both ties to advance to the Finals.

BJK Cup Finals Relocated to Shenzhen as Qualifying Rounds Commence

Team GB face the press ahead of their opening tie against Germany in Group F. (L-R) Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart, Anne Keothavong, Katie Boulter, Olivia Nicholls and Sonay Kartal, at Sportcampus Zuiderpark on 10 April, in The Hague, Netherlands.

© Nathan Stirk/Getty Images for LTA

Results – Thursday 10 April

Group B – Czechia defeated Brazil 2-1 / RT TORAX Arena, Ostrava, Czechia (hard, indoors)

  • Marie Bouzkova (CZE) d. Laura Pigossi (BRA) 6-0 7-6(3)
  • Linda Noskova (CZE) d. Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) 6-4 6-0
  • Beatriz Haddad Maia/Luisa Stefani (BRA) d. Linda Noskova/Tereza Valentova (CZE) 6-4 7-6(4)

Group D – Kazakhstan defeated Australia 2-1 / Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane, Australia (hard, outdoors)

  • Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) d. Maya Joint (AUS) 6-2 6-1
  • Elena Rybakina (KAZ) d. Kimberly Birrell (AUS) 6-3 7-6(4)
  • Storm Hunter/Ellen Perez (AUS) d. Anna Danilina/Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) 6-3 6-4

Group E – Poland defeated Switzerland 3-0 / Radomskie Centrum Sportu, Radom, Poland (clay, indoors)

  • Katarzyna Kawa (POL) d. Jil Teichmann (SUI) 5-7 6-4 6-2
  • Magda Linette (POL) d. Viktorija Golubic (SUI) 6-4 6-3
  • Maja Chwalinska/Martyna Kubka (POL) d. Celine Naef/Jil Teichmann (SUI) 6-3 4-6 6-2

Group F – Netherlands defeated Germany 3-0 / Sportcampus Zuiderpark, The Hague, Netherlands (clay, indoors)

  • Eva Vedder (NED) d. Jule Niemeier (GER) 6-3 6-1
  • Suzan Lamens (NED) d. Tatjana Maria (GER) 3-6 6-4 7-5
  • Suzan Lamens/Demi Schuurs (NED) d. Anna-Lena Friedsam/Laura Siegemund (GER) 7-6(5) 7-5