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The Billie Jean King Cup finals, also known as the Federation Cup, will be hosted in Shenzhen, China, for the next three years. Three locations in Shenzhen are being considered for the main event, including the Shenzhen Bay Sports Arena. The top-tier women's team international competitions will move from Europe to Asia, following the first four editions in Prague, Seville, Glasgow, and Malaga. The organisers feel that the choice will raise the global profile of women's tennis. This is the first time that China will be the host of the women's team competition.
The event was last staged in Asia in 1989 in Tokyo, where it was known as the Fed Cup and featured 16 nations. A record 146 nations are expected to compete in 2025. China will be one of the host nations, while Italy will be the defending champion. The remaining six teams will be determined after the qualifiers, which will take place in April. "The announcement demonstrates our commitment to bringing the passion and excitement of nation v nation team tennis to markets around the world," Billie Jean King said.
A dream come true for myself and other Chinese tennis players: Gold Medalist Zheng Qinwen
International Tennis Federation (ITF) stated that the decision furthers the tournament's mission of fostering cultural interchange, celebrating diversity, and increasing ties between athletes and spectators globally. The decision to hold finals in China has also brought some cheers to leading players.
"Having the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen is a dream come true for myself and other Chinese tennis players," Paris Games gold medalist and world No. 5 Zheng Qinwen 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," she added.
Beginning April 7, qualifying ties will be contested in six group events, with three teams per group. Each three-day event will be conducted at one venue and played in a round-robin format. The qualifications will be hosted by Australia, Czechia, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia. The teams that finish first in each group progress to the Finals, while the teams that finish second and third will compete in the November playoffs.