Tennis: Billie Jean Cup Moves To China

By: Gyang Dakwo
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on Thursday the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, formerly known as the Fed Cup, will take place in Shenzhen, China, from 2025 to 2027 for the first time ever.
This decision represents a significant shift in the tournament’s trajectory, which has historically been dominated by venues in Europe and the Americas, just seven out of 61 editions have been conducted outside of these two regions. The last two finals were held in Spain: in Seville in 2023, where Canada claimed the championship, and in Málaga in 2024, where Italy secured the title.
The event on Chinese soil, marks the first return to Asia in 36 years, since Tokyo hosted the event in 1989.
In an official statement recently launched, 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 tournament has seen remarkable growth, with a record-breaking 146 nations set to compete in 2025.
According to organisers, Shenzhen was chosen due to its state-of-the-art sports facilities, an expanding tennis culture, and a rapidly expanding market for women’s sports.
ITF President David Haggerty highlighted that over 20 million people play tennis in China, making it the second-largest tennis-playing nation globally.
“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,” Haggerty said.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King, the tournament’s namesake, underscored the importance of this swap.
“This venue embodies the spirit of growth and innovation at the heart of the Billie Jean King Cup. This event broadens tennis’s reach and champions the power of women’s sport on a global scale,” the iconic athlete stated.
The ties of the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers, with hosts China and current Champions Italy automatically qualifying for the Finals, will be played across six group events the week commencing 7 April, consisting of three teams per group. Each three-day event will be held in one location and played on a round-robin basis. The team finishing top of each Qualifiers group will advance to the Finals. Teams finishing in second and third positions will compete in the play-offs in November.