2024 Finals: How it works
04/11/2024 16:11
Everything you need to know about how the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals will work - from a breakdown of the format to a daily schedule
By Kevin Palmer
The 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals will bring down the curtain on the women's tennis season, as some of the biggest names in the sport are set to gather in Malaga.
HOW DID THE TEAMS QUALIFY?
Defending champions Canada and last year's beaten finalists Italy qualified automatically, along with hosts Spain and wildcard Czechia.
The other nations competing in Malaga booked their place in the Finals by coming through the Qualifiers in April.
Australia secured their return to the Finals with a 4-0 win against Mexico, while Iga Swiatek took centre stage as she guided Poland to a comfortable win against Switzerland.
Emma Raducanu was the star performer for Great Britain, as the 2021 US Open champion won both singles matches as captain Anne Keothavong led her team to an impressive win away in France.
There was also joy for new USA captain Lindsay Davenport, as the three-time Grand Slam singles champion won her first tie in her new role with a 3-0 win against Belgium.
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka made a return to action for Japan in Tokyo, as they beat Kazakhstan 3-0 and Germany secured an impressive 3-1 win in Brazil.
Slovakia also sealed their place in the Finals after they beat Slovenia 4-0 and Romania came back from 2-0 down to beat Ukraine in a tie played at Fernandina Beach, USA.
WHAT ABOUT THE FORMAT?
All ties at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga will consist of three matches, with two singles followed by doubles.
The opening round will include four ties, with the opening contest on Wednesday 13 November seeing hosts Spain take on a Poland side featuring four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
Two ties will be played on the second day, with Japan and Romania opening proceedings on Day 2 before Slovakia take on a USA team led by top 10 star Danielle Collins, as Lindsay Davenport's side looks to win a 19th title for their nation and a first since 2017.
The final round one tie will be played on Friday 15 November, with Great Britain taking on Germany.
The quarter-finals get underway on Saturday, with Italy waiting for the winners of the Japan vs Romania tie.
Australia will take on the team that emerges victorious from the Slovakia vs USA tie, with champions Canada taking on either Germany or Great Britain and Czechia facing either Spain or Poland.
The first semi-final takes place on Monday 18 November, with the second coming the following day before the final is played on Wednesday 20 November with a 17:00 start time in Spain.
WHAT ABOUT THE VENUE?
Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena proved to be an outstanding venue for last year's Davis Cup Final 8 and it will also be the home for this year's Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
The two World Cup of Tennis events are taking place alongside one another for the first time, with play overlapping on the final two day's of the BJK Cup Finals and the first two days of the Davis Cup Final 8.
TEAM SELECTIONS
Australia
Ajla Tomljanovic
Olivia Gadecki
Kimberly Birrell
Daria Saville
Ellen Perez
Captain: Samantha Stosur
Ajla Tomljanovic
Olivia Gadecki
Kimberly Birrell
Daria Saville
Ellen Perez
Captain: Samantha Stosur
Canada
Leylah Fernandez
Rebecca Marino
Marina Stakusic
Gabriela Dabrowski
Captain: Heidi El Tabakh
Leylah Fernandez
Rebecca Marino
Marina Stakusic
Gabriela Dabrowski
Captain: Heidi El Tabakh
Czechia
Linda Noskova
Marie Bouzkova
Katerina Siniakova
Sara Bejlek
Dominika Salkova
Captain: Petr Pala
Linda Noskova
Marie Bouzkova
Katerina Siniakova
Sara Bejlek
Dominika Salkova
Captain: Petr Pala
Great Britain
Katie Boulter
Emma Raducanu
Harriet Dart
Heather Watson
Olivia Nicholls
Captain: Anne Keothavong
Katie Boulter
Emma Raducanu
Harriet Dart
Heather Watson
Olivia Nicholls
Captain: Anne Keothavong
Germany
Laura Siegemund
Jule Niemeier
Tatjana Maria
Eva Lys
Anna-Lena Friedsam
Captain: Rainer Schüttler
Laura Siegemund
Jule Niemeier
Tatjana Maria
Eva Lys
Anna-Lena Friedsam
Captain: Rainer Schüttler
Italy
Jasmine Paolini
Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Lucia Bronzetti
Sara Errani
Martina Trevisan
Captain: Tathiana Garbin
Jasmine Paolini
Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Lucia Bronzetti
Sara Errani
Martina Trevisan
Captain: Tathiana Garbin
Japan
Moyuka Uchijima
Ena Shibahara
Nao Hibino
Eri Hozumi
Shuko Aoyama
Captain: Ai Sugiyama
Moyuka Uchijima
Ena Shibahara
Nao Hibino
Eri Hozumi
Shuko Aoyama
Captain: Ai Sugiyama
Poland
Iga Świątek
Magdalena Fręch
Magda Linette
Maja Chwalińska
Katarzyna Kawa
Captain: Dawid Celt
Iga Świątek
Magdalena Fręch
Magda Linette
Maja Chwalińska
Katarzyna Kawa
Captain: Dawid Celt
Romania
Jaqueline Cristian
Alexia Anca Todoni
Ana Bogdan
Elena Gabriela Ruse
Monica Niculescu
Captain: Horia Tecau
Jaqueline Cristian
Alexia Anca Todoni
Ana Bogdan
Elena Gabriela Ruse
Monica Niculescu
Captain: Horia Tecau
Slovakia
Rebecca Sramkova
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Viktoria Hruncakova
Renata Jamrichova
Tereza Mihalikova
Captain: Matej Liptak
Rebecca Sramkova
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Viktoria Hruncakova
Renata Jamrichova
Tereza Mihalikova
Captain: Matej Liptak
Spain
Paula Badosa
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Nuria Parrizas-Diaz
Sara Sorribes Tormo
Marina Bassols Ribera
Captain: Anabel Medina Garrigues
Paula Badosa
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Nuria Parrizas-Diaz
Sara Sorribes Tormo
Marina Bassols Ribera
Captain: Anabel Medina Garrigues
USA
Danielle Collins
Peyton Stearns
Ashlyn Krueger
Taylor Townsend
Caroline Dolehide
Captain: Lindsay Davenport
Danielle Collins
Peyton Stearns
Ashlyn Krueger
Taylor Townsend
Caroline Dolehide
Captain: Lindsay Davenport
