Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek decisions spark significant concern for historic competition
Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Emma Raducanu are among the big names who have opted against playing for their nations in the Billie Jean King Cup this week, so does the women’s version of the Davis Cup have a problem?
It certainly appears to be less appealing for the top names in the women’s game to play in this group stage of the Billie Jean King Cup, which has been squeezed in between the WTA 1000 tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami and before the clay court season gets into full swing.
According to Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup caption Anne Keothavong, Raducanu’s decision to pull out of her squad is a sign that the competition may have some challenges moving forward.
“It’s tough for every nation to put out their best players in each tie,” Keothavong told BBC Sport in The Hague, where Britain is in a group with Germany and the Netherlands.
“The calendar just makes it so difficult for players, so I’m empathetic as to how they are.
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“The tennis circuit is brutal – you go from one week to the next and there’s not much time to rest and recover.
“You have got to try and pick and choose your moments, but it’s not a player problem – it’s a tennis problem.
“One of these days maybe everyone can figure out a solution and work together.”
On Raducanu’s decision not to take part, Keothavong added: “Obviously it’s disappointing we don’t have her on this team, but I totally understand what she needs to do,” Keothavong said of Raducanu.
“A player has got to do what a player has got to do – what is best for them. She has given a lot to this team and she may not be with us this time round but I hope in the future she will be.”
While all players relish the chance to play for their country, there has been an additional dilemma added into the mix in this competition in 2025 after it was confirmed the final will be played in China for the first time.
The finals have been played in Europe in November in recent years, but the decision has been made to move the finals to the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena in Shenzhen and they will be played from 16 to 21 September.
“This rescheduling from November to September aligns the event with the start of the WTA tournaments in Asia, supporting player calendar flow,” read an ITF statement confirming the move.
“The Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena, known as the “Spring Cocoon”, is an iconic sports venue that previously hosted the 2019 WTA Finals and other major sporting events.
“China’s flourishing tennis culture and growing demand for women’s sports, combined with the venue’s track record for hosting world class events, mean it is an ideal location to showcase the brilliance of the world’s best women tennis players and inspire the next generation of athletes and fans.”
With the Billie Jean King Cup final taking place shortly after the US Open in New York, it will be interesting to see how many elite players agree to play at a time when they may be considering taking a rest period ahead of the Asian swing of the WTA Tour.
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