The Billie Jean King Cup finals, previously scheduled to take place in Seville, have been relocated to Malaga in November, as announced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Wednesday. This decision was made due to the request of the event's host partner, Junta de Andalucia, and with the support of the city and diputacion of Malaga.
The tournament will be held at the Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain, commencing on November 13 and concluding on November 20. Interestingly, the last two days of the Billie Jean King Cup finals will coincide with the first two days of the Davis Cup finals, which are also set to take place at the same venue from November 19-24.
The ITF emphasized that the consolidation of the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup will create a distinctive and high-caliber two-week period of international team tennis. Existing ticket holders for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Sevilla have been given the option to exchange their tickets for the corresponding sessions in Malaga or receive a full refund.
In terms of the tournament format, the Billie Jean King Cup, previously known as the Fed Cup, will feature eight teams in a knockout round one. Four seeded teams will receive byes to the quarterfinals. Reigning champions Canada are slated to face either Germany or Britain in their quarterfinal match, while runners-up Italy will take on Japan or Romania.
ITF CEO Kelly Fairweather expressed the organization's commitment to ensuring a smooth experience for both players and fans, aiming to deliver an event that is not only exceptional but also unforgettable. Fairweather stated, 'We are confident that this relocation will maintain the esteemed legacy of both tournaments and eagerly anticipate welcoming the top 20 teams, their players, and supporters to Malaga this November.'
