Canada draws Romania, Japan in qualifying group for Billie Jean King Cup
Canada has learned its opponents for the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup international women’s tennis tournament in April. The qualifying draw took place in London, with Canada being placed in Group A alongside Romania and Japan, with Japan hosting the matches.
The qualifying matches are set to begin on April 7, with the winners of the six three-country groups advancing to the final rounds. The final will see the top teams compete against host nation China and defending champions Italy, who won the tournament in 2024.
Canada, who claimed victory in the event in 2023, suffered a defeat to Britain in last year’s quarterfinals. They will be looking to bounce back and make a strong showing in this year’s competition.
Romania holds a 3-0 record against Canada in international women’s tennis, with their most recent victory coming in a World Group II playoff in 2018. On the other hand, Canada has a 1-3 record against Japan, with their last meeting dating back to 1995.
This year, the tournament format has changed from a 12-team to an eight-team final, with qualifying groups being utilized. The traditional home-and-away ties will return in the qualifiers and playoffs in 2026.
Tennis Canada has announced that the qualifying roster and full schedule will be confirmed at a later date, providing fans with more details on the upcoming matches.
In other news, China has been chosen as the host for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the next three years. Shenzhen will host the tournament from 2025-27, following the previous finals in Seville and Malaga in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The exact dates for the finals have yet to be announced, but organizers cited China’s “state-of-the-art facilities, ever-growing tennis culture, and increasing demand for women’s sports” as reasons for selecting the country as the host.
This move comes after the WTA Finals were relocated from Shenzhen to Guadalajara in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns for the safety of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai. China’s selection as the host for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals highlights the country’s commitment to promoting women’s sports and providing a top-tier tennis experience for players and fans alike.
