Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Italy Eye Hat-trick Of Titles As Tennis Star Set To Collide

Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Italy eye hat-trick of titles as tennis star set to collide (Italy eye hat-trick of titles as tennis star set to collide in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China, from September 22 to 27. Photo credit: WTA Tour)

Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Italy will have their eyes firmly set on the prize when they take the stage for the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China, from September 22 to 27.

The Italian side is looking for its third straight title after having won the previous two titles of the tournament, which is also known as the Women’s World Cup of Tennis.

Jasmine Paolini, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, will headline the Italian squad that also features veteran Sara Errani, with whom Paolini won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics in the doubles event.

The squad also features the likes of Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Lucia Bronzetti and Tyra Grant, with Tathiana Garbin the captain. Meanwhile, the eight-team tournament also presents some other strong players.

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, Grand Slam winners Linda Noskova and Elena Rybakina, and top 20 stars in the world, including Karolina Muchova, Jasmine Paolini and Elina Svitolina.

China will feature the likes of Zheng Qinwen, Wang Xiyu, Zhang Shuai, Guo Hanyu and Jiang Xinyu, with Zheng Jie the skipper. Elina Svitolina will be leading Ukraine's charge, with Marta Kostyuk also present.

For Britain, Katie Boulter leads the charge, while Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova will look to pose the challenge from Czechia. Current World No.2 Elena Rybakina will lead Kazakhstan's challenge.

Here are the squads and schedule for the tournament:

ITALY

Jasmine Paolini

Elisabetta Cocciaretto

Lucia Bronzetti

Sara Errani

Tyra Grant

Captain: Tathiana Garbin

CHINA

Zheng Qinwen

Wang Xiyu

Zhang Shuai

Guo Hanyu

Jiang Xinyu

Captain: Zheng Jie

UKRAINE

Elina Svitolina

Marta Kostyuk

Oleksandra Oliynykova

Dayana Yastremska

Lyudmyla Kichenok

Captain: Illya Marchenko

BELGIUM

Hanne Vandewinkel

Jeline Vandromme

Greet Minnen

Magali Kempen

Captain: Wim Fissette

KAZAKHSTAN

Elena Rybakina

Yulia Putintseva

Anna Danilina

Zhibek Kulambayeva

Sonja Zhiyenbayeva

Captain: Yuriy Schukin

SPAIN

Cristina Bucsa – added after the deadline on August 20

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

Kaitlin Quevedo

Marina Bassols Ribera

Sara Sorribes Tormo

Captain: Carla Suarez Navarro

CZECHIA

Linda Noskova

Karolina Muchova

Marie Bouzkova

Katerina Siniakova

Captain: Barbora Strycova

GREAT BRITAIN

Katie Boulter

Harriet Dart

Mika Stojsavljevic

Jodie Burrage

Captain: Anne Keothavong

Schedule for the tournament (Timings in IST)

Tuesday 22 September

Czechia v Great Britain (2:30 PM) – Quarter-final 1

Wednesday 23 September

Spain v Kazakhstan (2:30 PM) – Quarter-final 2

Thursday 24 September

Ukraine v Belgium (7:30 PM) – Quarter-final 3

China v Italy (not before 2:30) – Quarter-final 4

Friday 25 September

Semi-final 1 (2:30 PM) – Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 2

Saturday 26 September

Semi-final 2 (2:30 PM) – Winner Quarter-final 3 v Winner Quarter-final 4

Sunday 27 September

Semi-final 2 (2:30 PM) – Winner Quarter-final 3 v Winner Quarter-final 4

Fans in India can watch the tournament on the Veto OTT platform.

Article Source: IANS