Billie Jean King Cup Finals to be Held in Shenzhen, China from 2025-2027

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be held in Shenzhen, China from 2025 to 2027, marking the first time the event will be hosted in China.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on Thursday that the Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be hosted in Shenzhen, China from 2025 to 2027. This marks a historic milestone, as it will be the first time the competition has been hosted in China. The event has undergone significant growth, with a record 146 nations set to compete in 2025, a substantial increase from the 16 nations that participated in the 1989 edition in Tokyo, Japan, when it was known as the Fed Cup.

The ITF views the move to Shenzhen as an opportunity to foster cultural exchange, celebrate diversity, and strengthen connections between athletes and fans worldwide. The event is expected to have a profound impact on the growth of tennis in China, and the ITF is excited to bring the competition to a new and enthusiastic audience. As the host nation, China is eager to showcase its capabilities and passion for tennis, and the event is expected to be a resounding success.

Paris Games gold medallist and world number five Zheng Qinwen expressed her excitement about the Billie Jean King Cup Finals coming to Shenzhen. “Having the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen is a dream come true for myself and other Chinese tennis players,” she said in a statement. “This event reflects the incredible progress of tennis in China and highlights how women’s sports continue to thrive here. I can’t wait to see how it inspires more young girls to pick up a tennis racket and dream big.”

Twelve-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King welcomed the announcement that Shenzhen, China will host the Billie Jean King Cup Finals from 2025 to 2027. “Shenzhen embodies the spirit of growth and innovation that is at the core of the Billie Jean King Cup, expanding the reach of tennis and championing the power of women’s sports,” King said, highlighting the city's dynamic energy and commitment to promoting women's sports.

The Billie Jean King Cup is the premier women's international team competition, and it was hosted in Malaga, Spain last year. Italy emerged victorious, with world number four Jasmine Paolini steering the team to their fifth title. This year, hosts China and champions Italy will automatically qualify for the Finals, while other teams will compete in qualifying ties to secure their spot.

The qualifying ties will consist of six group events, commencing on April 7th, with three teams per group. Each three-day event will be held in one location and played on a round-robin basis. The groups have been announced, with Slovakia hosting USA and Denmark in Group C, and Canada, the top seeds in the qualifiers, facing Romania and hosts Japan in Group A.

The remaining groups have also been confirmed, with second seeds Czech Republic hosting Spain and Brazil in Group B. Kazakhstan and Colombia will travel to Australia for Group D ties, while Poland will host Switzerland and Ukraine in Group E. Group F will be hosted by Britain and includes Germany and Netherlands. The teams finishing top of each group will advance to the Finals, while teams finishing in second and third will compete in the playoffs in November.