Top Champions Highlight Billie Jean King Cup Finals Nominations
LONDON — Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen are among the prominent players nominated to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup finals, announced on Friday. The finals will take place from September 22-27 in Shenzhen, China, featuring eight teams.
Returning to lead two-time defending champion Italy are Jasmine Paolini and her doubles partner, Sara Errani. Noskova’s strong Czech Republic team includes Karolina Muchova, the player she defeated in the Wimbledon final, and top-ranked doubles player Katerina Siniakova.
Rybakina will represent Kazakhstan, while host nation China will be led by Zheng, who secured gold at the 2024 Paris Games. Ukraine will be represented by Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina.
The competition format consists of two singles matches followed by a deciding doubles match, if necessary. Nations have the option to alter their rosters by making up to four changes until the day before the finals.
Team Nominations
- Belgium: Hanne Vandewinkel, Jeline Vandromme, Greet Minnen, Magali Kempen; captain: Wim Fissette.
- China: Zhang Shuai, Wang Xiyu, Zheng Qinwen, Guo Hanyu, Jiang Xinyu; captain: Zheng Jie.
- Czech Republic: Karolina Muchova, Linda Noskova, Marie Bouzkova, Katerina Siniakova; captain: Barbora Strycova.
- Britain: Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic, Jodie Burrage; captain: Anne Keothavong.
- Italy: Jasmine Paolini, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Lucia Bronzetti, Tyra Caterina Grant, Sara Errani; captain: Tathiana Garbin.
- Kazakhstan: Elena Rybakina, Yulia Putintseva, Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, Zhibek Kulambayeva, Anna Danilina; captain: Yuriy Schukin.
- Spain: Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Kaitlin Quevedo, Marina Bassols Ribera, Sara Sorribes Tormo; captain: Carla Suarez Navarro.
- Ukraine: Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Oleksandra Oliynykova, Dayana Yastremska, Lyudmyla Kichenok; captain: Illya Marchenko.
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn
