2025 Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup structures announced
04/10/2024 13:30
The World Cup of Tennis events further align as the structures for both competitions in 2025 have been announced
The 2025 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge and 2025 Davis Cup structures have been revealed by the International Tennis Federation and Billie Jean King Cup Limited.
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will transition from a 12 to an eight-team event to mirror the existing Davis Cup Final 8 format – as part of a long-term strategy to bring the World Cup of Tennis events closer together.
In order to make that transition, the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers will be played across seven group events in April, consisting of three teams per group. Each three-day event will be held in one location and played on a round-robin basis. The seven group winners will join a host nation in the 2025 Finals1. Home-or-away ties will return in the Qualifiers from 2026 onwards.
In Davis Cup, the September stage will move from four group stage events played over six days, to seven home-or-away ties played over two days. The seven winning teams will join a host nation in the Final 8 in November.
David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “Today’s news is another positive step forward for both the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge and Davis Cup, and I am excited for the future of both competitions. The format amendments aim to build on the success we have seen across both events in recent years and contributes towards our long-term ambition to bring them more in sync under the World Cup of Tennis banner.
“In Billie Jean King Cup, the move to an eight-team Finals aligns with the Davis Cup Final 8 format which has proven to be such a success. Moving the Davis Cup September stage from six-day group stage events to two-day home-or-away ties will ease players’ schedules immediately following the US Open, while maintaining the intensity of the competition that they all love.
"The move also allows us to showcase world-class tennis in more nations around the world and increase awareness and participation. With these exciting developments for 2025 now confirmed, our focus is on delivering a spectacular fortnight of tennis at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga in November.”
The updated Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge structure was approved by the ITF Board, Billie Jean King Cup Limited Board and ITF Billie Jean King Cup Committee.
The amendments come in advance of the 2024 Finals of both competitions which, for the first time, will be held in the same venue (Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga) with overlapping dates (Billie Jean King Cup; 13-20 November and Davis Cup; 19-24 November).
Both events have also seen another record year of nation entries (157 in Davis Cup, 138 in Billie Jean King Cup).
Bidding processes for the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals host and the 2025 Davis Cup Final 8 host are underway and announcements will be made in due course.
Ilana Kloss, Chair of Billie Jean King Cup Limited, said: “Creating the best competition format is a key part of our long-term strategy for the Billie Jean King Cup and follows consultation with players, fans, partners and broadcasters. An eight-team event over six days will be hugely beneficial to player health and the global fan experience. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
In the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, the following nations will compete in a knockout competition for the right to be crowned world champions: Australia, Canada (2023 world champions), Czechia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy (2023 runners up), Japan, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and USA.
Both the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and the Davis Cup Finals are being held in Malaga as part of a wider partnership between the ITF and the Region of Andalucia.