Team tennis: Can GB top the Billie Jean King Cup?
Despite being around for over 60 years (in one incarnation or another), the top international team event in women’s tennis has often struggled for coverage. Clare McEwen changes that right here (right now) with her preview of Great Britain’s chances.
The competition began in 1963 as the Federation Cup and is now known as the Billie Jean King Cup in honour of the legend. It’s the largest annual women’s international team event thanks to the number of nations who compete. The first event had 16 countries enter, despite there being no prize money or sponsorship and teams having to pay their own expenses. Now it boasts 146 nations competing across all levels of the competition. It’s the World Cup of tennis (albeit played over an entire year).
The Format
The Billie Jean King Cup has five main levels. Levels 3-5 are formed from emerging tennis nations and groups are played out via geographical area. The top two levels are the World Groups where there are promotions and relegations. But before this gets dull, the pointy end of the event are the Qualifiers, and the Finals.
The Qualifiers this year included six groups of three teams and were played in April. Great Britain won their two ties against Germany and Netherlands to advance to the Finals, which are taking place now. Great Britain drew Japan and the match begins on Thursday 18th September. The mini-tournament starts with a quarter-final and the competition then works as expected: semi-final, then a final to determine this year’s Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup winner.
Teams play three ties for each match, two singles matches and a doubles match. The finals event continues until 21st September and the other teams involved are Italy (current holders), China, Spain, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and USA. China are hosts.
The Great Britain Team
The GB team is made up of Katie Boulter, Francesca Jones, Sonay Kartal, and Jodie Burrage. Former player, Anne Keothavong, is the team’s captain – which here means she’s the coach, not another player. You’ll notice there’s no Emma Raducanu. She opted to miss the team event to focus on singles games on the main Tour. This is common amongst top players, even though it is a blow for the team. However, captain Keothavong still thinks they have a “real shot” at winning the Cup this year.
Katie Boulter: aged 29, currently ranked 55 in singles and 313 in doubles. Has played 17 ties and this is her seventh BJK Cup. She won her singles match in the qualifier against Germany, lost her singles tie against Netherlands, but then won the doubles tie with Jodie Burrage to earn the team’s place in the finals.
Sonay Kartal: aged 23, currently ranked 82 in singles and 175 in doubles (although was within the top 50 in singles over the summer). She’s only played two previous BJK Cup ties but is a rising star of the game. Kartal won both her previous singles ties, against Germany and Netherlands, giving her a 100% win record in the event.
Jodie Burrage: aged 26, currently ranked 149 in singles and 116 in doubles. Burrage has also played two previous ties. Her only win so far came in the aforementioned decisive doubles win partnering Boulter to get GB to these finals.
Francesca Jones: aged 24, currently ranked 73 in singles, with no doubles ranking. Jones joined the team after the withdrawal of Raducanu and is the team’s newest member. She hasn’t played a BJK Cup tie yet, could she get her first opportunity in China this week?
What are GB’s chances?
Defending champions and number one seeded team, Italy, are already through to the semi-finals having beaten hosts China. As the number two seeded team, GB will hope to beat Japan (seeded seventh) to progress. However, with only three ties to decide the match, there’s no room for error. If GB wins the tie, they’ll play a semi-final against Kazakhstan (seeded 6th) or USA (seeded 3rd). The final would be against Italy (already through) or Ukraine (already through).
Anne Keothavong’s team boasts two players who have been in the top 50 this year in Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal, plus current number 73 in the world Francesca Jones, and Jodie Burrage who has also spent time within the top 100.
On paper, GB have a very good chance of making it to the final. They haven’t reached a final since 1981 and have never won the Cup, but I’m with captain Keothavong , they do have a real shot at it.
Where to watch
BBC Red button and BBC Sport are showing all Great Britain’s ties, here’s when to press that red button/fire up the laptop:
Quarter-final v Japan: 18th September at 10.30am
Semi final (fingers crossed): 20th September at 10.30am
Final (everything crossed): 21st September at 10.30am
