Billie Jean King Cup finals to be hosted in Shenzhen
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced that, following a record-breaking 2024 event, the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup will be hosted in the Chinese city of Shenzhen from 2025 to 2027.
This decision represents a significant shift in the tournament’s history, with just seven out of its previous 61 editions having been held outside Europe and the Americas.
The last edition of the event, formerly known as the Fed Cup, to be held in Asia was in Japan in 1989.
Announcing the hosting, the ITF described the move as "a new chapter for the women’s world cup of tennis," reaffirming its commitment to building a global platform for women’s tennis.
The ITF advise that “with its state-of-the-art facilities, ever-growing tennis culture, and growing demand for women’s sports, China offers an excellent setting to create unforgettable moments and showcase the brilliance of the world’s best women tennis players in an inspiring, electrifying environment.”
Highlighting that over 20 million people play tennis in China, making it the second-largest tennis-playing nation globally, ITF President, David Haggerty stated ."China’s investment in infrastructure and talent development has yielded substantial results, including Olympic triumphs and a stronger presence of its players in international rankings.”
The decision to host the Finals in China is part of the Billie Jean King Cup's broader goal, as a global competition, to increase its reach and elevate the profile of women's tennis on a worldwide scale. The move also aligns with the tournament’s ambition to create moments of cultural exchange, celebrate differences, and build stronger connections between athletes and fans from diverse backgrounds.
A partnership with the China Tennis Association and a private investor, Beijing Guoti Intelligent Technology, has been set up to successfully deliver the respective events.
Beijing Guoti Intelligent Technology has been involved in developing the sport of table tennis in China for many years, from grassroots initiatives and school programs to organising competitions at various levels.
Image: The Swiss team after winning the 2022 edition of the Billie Jean King Cup. Credit: Shutterstock.
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