Holders Italy and Ukraine make strong starts in BJK Cup as USA trail Italy and Ukraine made decisive progress in their Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers on Friday, securing 2-0 leads against Japan and Poland respectively, while the United States faced a challenging start against Belgium. The results set the stage for critical matches on Saturday as teams vie for a spot in the eight-team final in China. Italy’s two-time defending champions took control of their qualifier against Japan with a strong display from Jasmine Paolini and Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Paolini, ranked eighth, overcame early nerves to defeat world number 133 Himeno Sakatsume 6-3, 6-1 on clay in Velletri. Her victory marked her first win of the season on clay, a surface she described as “never easy” to navigate. Cocciaretto, ranked 42nd, followed up with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, solidifying Italy’s dominance. Italy now trails by just one point in their bid to qualify for the final, with doubles and reverse singles matches set for Saturday. Ukraine also advanced strongly in their qualifier against Poland, with world number seven Elina Svitolina and 27th-ranked Marta Kostyuk securing their singles victories. Svitolina defeated Katarzyna Kawa 6-2, 6-1, while Kostyuk, playing her first match in Ukraine since the full-scale war began, beat Magda Linette 6-4, 6-0. Kostyuk described the experience as “the weirdest of my life,” recounting how air raid alarms and distant explosions interrupted her practice sessions. Despite the chaos, she emphasized the necessity of continuing play, noting that “everyone around me seemed calm” and that the situation was a reality for many. The United States, record 18-time winners and last year’s runners-up, faced a daunting challenge against Belgium. The U.S.#japan #italy #jasmine_paolini #billie_jean_king_cup #elisabetta_cocciaretto
2026 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers: Jasmine Paolini and Iva Jovic Eye Shenzhen Finals The 2026 Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers are set to begin on 10-11 April, with 14 nations competing for the remaining seven spots at the women’s World Cup of tennis finals. The tournament will take place in Shenzhen, China, from 22–27 September, with the host nation already guaranteed a place in the final stage. The winners of this weekend’s play-offs will join China in the finals, including defending champions Italy and 2025 runners-up USA. The qualifiers feature a format of five matches per tie, with two singles rubbers on the first day followed by a doubles match on the second. If no team has secured three wins by the end of the doubles match, additional singles rubbers will determine the outcome. Matches are played as best of three sets, aligning with the structure of the Davis Cup, the men’s equivalent tournament. Italy, led by world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, will face Japan in Velletri on outdoor clay. Paolini will partner Sara Errani, the Olympic doubles gold medallist, in the doubles match. Team USA, spearheaded by 18-year-old Iva Jovic—the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in 2026—will take on Belgium. Belgium’s squad includes world doubles No. 1 Elise Mertens, adding depth to their lineup. Switzerland, guided by Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, will host Czechia. The Czech team features former Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová and world No. 14 Linda Nosková, making them a formidable opponent. Ukraine, with world No. 7 Elina Svitolina and rising star Marta Kostyuk (who has won 10 of her 13 BJK Cup singles matches), will face Poland. The qualifiers will be held across multiple venues, with matches played on a mix of indoor and outdoor courts.#belinda_bencic #elise_mertens #jasmine_paolini #billie_jean_king_cup #iva_jovic
Slovenian Women's Team Heads to Portorož for Billie Jean King Cup Final The Slovenian women's tennis team will face Spain in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers on April 10 and 11 in Portorož. The team will field its strongest lineup, led by Kaja Juvan, Veronika Erjavec, and Tamara Zidanšek. Captain Maša Zec Peškirič has selected Juvan (92nd in the WTA world rankings), Erjavec (102nd), Zidanšek (148th), Dalilo Jakupović (377th), and Niko Radišić (811th) for the match. The Slovenian team is ranked 18th in the Billie Jean King Cup standings. Their qualification for the final comes after a successful November appearance in India, where they defeated the host nation and Netherlands to advance to a higher tier of competition. A victory over Spain would mark Slovenia's second-ever participation in the prestigious final of the women's team event. Spain, ranked fifth in the world, is led by former player Carla Suarez Navarro. The Spanish team includes Cristina Bucsa (31st), Kaitlin Quevedo (133rd), Leyre Romero Gormaz (144th), Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales (171st), and Sara Sorribes Tormo (449th). Notable absentees include Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (50th) and Paula Badosa (106th), the latter of whom was world number two in 2022. Zec Peškirič expressed optimism about the upcoming event, stating, "We are approaching a major tennis event in Portorož. The team is well-known. We are all very excited about the matches and can hardly wait to show what we can do." The Billie Jean King Cup, a premier international team competition for women, will see Slovenia and Spain compete for a spot in the final. The match will be a significant test for the Slovenian squad, which has already demonstrated its potential in recent tournaments.#tamara_zidansek #billie_jean_king_cup #slovenian_women_team #kaja_juvan #veronika_erjavec
Slovenia's Women's Tennis Team Faces Spain in BJK Cup Qualifiers The Slovenian women's tennis team will compete against Spain in the final qualifier for the Billie Jean King Cup final on April 10th and 11th at the TC Portorož. This match marks the team's strongest lineup to date. Captain Maša Zec Peškirič has selected five players for the showdown: Kajo Juvan (92nd WTA), Veronika Erjavec (102nd WTA), Tamar Zidanšek (148th WTA), Dalilo Jakupović (377th WTA), and Niko Radišić (811th WTA). Slovenia, ranked 18th in the Billie Jean King Cup standings, enters the match after a successful November campaign in India. The team defeated the Netherlands and host India, securing a promotion to a higher-tier competition. A victory over Spain would mark Slovenia's second historical qualification for the prestigious final of the women's team event in tennis. Spain, currently ranked fifth in the world, is led by former top player Carla Suárez Navarro. The Spanish squad includes Cristina Bucsa (31st WTA), Kaitlin Quevedo (133rd WTA), Leyre Romero Gormaz (144th WTA), Guiomar Maristany Zuleta de Reales (171st WTA), and Sara Sorribes Tormo (449th WTA). Notably, Jessice Bouzas Maneiro (50th WTA) and Paule Badose (106th WTA), who was once the world's second-ranked player, are absent from the team. Captain Maša Zec Peškirič emphasized optimism and confidence in the Slovenian team ahead of the match: "We are approaching a major tennis event in Portorož. The team is well-known. Everyone is very excited about the matches and can hardly wait to show what we can do." Slovenian players are already inviting fans to support them in large numbers at the Portorož venue. 📅 Billie Jean King Cup 📍 Tennis Center Portorož 🎾 April 10–11, 2026#spain #slovenia #billie_jean_king_cup #masa_zec_peskiric #kajo_juvan
Polish tennis players break losing streaks in Challenger tournament Katarzyna Kawa ended a dismal run of eight consecutive losses by advancing to the second round of the Challenger tournament in Antalya. The Polish player defeated Mayar Sherif, the fifth-seeded Egyptian competitor, in a three-set match that lasted nearly two hours. Kawa won the first and third sets, securing her first singles victory in a tournament since October 29. This win follows her earlier success in the Polish team's Billie Jean King Cup campaign and mixed doubles at the United Cup. She will now face Ipek Oz or Katarina Zawacka in the next round. Maja Chwalińska also progressed smoothly, overcoming Adelina Lachinova of Latvia in a two-set match lasting 2 hours and 27 minutes. The Polish player, seeded seventh, maintained composure despite playing on a clay court with a "wild card" entry. Chwalińska will next face Despina Papamichail in the second round. The tournament results for the singles draw include Kawa’s victory over Sherif (6-3, 1-6, 6-2) and Chwalińska’s win against Lachinova (6-1, 6-3). Both players now aim to reach the quarterfinals, marking a significant turnaround after earlier struggles.#antalya #katarzyna_kawa #maja_chwalinska #billie_jean_king_cup #challenger_tournament
