Billie Jean King Cup Finals transition to eight-team event in 2025
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LONDON – The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will transition to an eight-team event in 2025, from the current 12, to mirror the existing Davis Cup format, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Oct 4.
The change is part of ITF’s aim to bring the international team competitions in men and women’s tennis closer together.
To make the transition, the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers will be played across seven group events in April, consisting of three teams in each group, ITF said.
Each three-day event will be held in one location and played on a round-robin basis. The seven group winners will join a host nation in the Finals.
Home-or-away ties will return for the qualifiers from 2026, ITF added.
In the 2025 Davis Cup, meanwhile, the September stage will move to seven home-or-away ties played over two days from four group-stage events held over six days.
The seven winning teams will join a host nation in the Final 8 in November.
“Today’s news is another positive step forward for both the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup. I am excited for the future of both competitions,” said ITF president David Haggerty.
“The format amendments aim to build on the success we have seen across both events in recent years and contributes towards our long-term ambition to bring them more in sync under the World Cup of Tennis banner.
“In Billie Jean King Cup, the move to an eight-team Finals aligns with the Davis Cup Final 8 format which has proven to be such a success. And moving the Davis Cup September stage from six-day group-stage events to two-day home-or-away ties will ease players’ schedules immediately following the US Open, while maintaining the intensity of the competition that they all love.”
The 2024 editions of both events are being held in Malaga, Spain.
“The move also allows us to showcase world-class tennis in more nations around the world and increase awareness and participation,” Haggerty added.
“With these exciting developments for 2025 now confirmed, our focus is on delivering a spectacular fortnight of tennis at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga in November.” REUTERS