BILLIE JEAN KING CUP BY BNP PARIBAS2022 QUALIFIERS

THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP OF TENNIS The Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas is the women’s world cup of tennis, with 127 nations entered in 2022. The Fed Cup was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in September 2020 – the first time a major global team competition had been named after a woman and the beginning a new era for the historic tournament. In addition to being a global campaigner for equality who has dedicated her life to fighting discrimination in all its forms, Billie Jean King was a member of the victorious USA team at the first edition of the competition in London in 1963. She remains the most-successful individual in the competition’s history having won a total of 10 titles (7 titles as a player, including one as a playing captain, and a further 3 titles as captain). WHAT’S AT STAKE THIS WEEKEND? The 14 teams in action this weekend are competing to secure a place at the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals. The 7 winning nations from this weekend’s Qualifiers will advance to the 2022 Finals, where they will compete alongside the 4 nations who have already secured a place at the Finals – 2021 runners-up Switzerland, as well as Australia, Belgium and Slovakia. The 2022 Finals will be held on 8-13 November and the host nation for the Finals will be announced in due course. The 7 losing nations from this weekend’s tie will compete in the Play-offs on 11-12 November, alongside the 7 best-performing teams from the regional Group I events (3 teams from Europe/Africa Group I, 2 teams from Asia/Oceania Group I and 2 teams from Americas Group I).