Israel withdraw from Billie Jean King Cup tie in Bosnia over security concerns

Israel has withdrawn from its Billie Jean King Cup tie scheduled for April in Bosnia and Herzegovina, citing security concerns following an internal review. The Israel Tennis Association (ITA) confirmed the decision on Thursday, with the International Tennis Federation accepting the withdrawal request.

According to The Times of Israel, the ITA said the move followed a “comprehensive review” of both the domestic security situation and specific risks linked to travel. The federation pointed to “concrete concerns regarding the safety of the players” as the decisive factor behind the withdrawal.

The assessment included the location of the tie, with Bosnia described by the ITA as “not considered particularly favourable to Israel” under current conditions. The presence of teams from Muslim-majority countries, including Egypt and Morocco, was also referenced as part of the broader context evaluated by the federation.

Israel had considered hosting the tie, but that option was also ruled out due to the current security situation, according to the same report. The final decision reflects a shift away from competitive priorities toward risk mitigation, with the federation opting against participation under the present conditions.

Israel captain Ronen Morley said the withdrawal aligned with guidance from security authorities and concerns expressed within the squad. Speaking via the ITA and reported by The Times of Israel, Morley indicated that the current environment made travel unfeasible. “Had the trip been set for today, Israeli security authorities wouldn’t let us leave.”

Morley added that the decision accounted for the composition of the team, noting that many of the players are at an early stage of their careers. He also stated that the federation does not expect the withdrawal to have a negative professional impact on the group.

Morley said the decision was the best solution “under the present circumstances,” given “the concern expressed by the players, most of whom are very young,” and “the understanding that we would not be harmed professionally.”

He framed the move in terms of responsibility rather than competitive strategy, underlining that safeguarding players remains the primary consideration in the current context. “Our first and foremost responsibility is to keep the players safe.”

From a tennis standpoint, Israel arrive at this stage with limited depth in the women’s game. WTA records show that Lina Glushko, aged 26, is currently ranked No. 616 in singles and owns a career-high ranking of No. 201, making her the country’s most prominent active player in the current squad picture by ranking profile.

Israel’s stronger historical reference in this competition remains its 2008 Fed Cup run to the quarter-finals, where the team lost to eventual champions Russia. That remains one of the country’s most notable campaigns in the event’s previous format, and it underlines how far removed the current squad is from that level of international depth and competitiveness.

Glushko’s name also drew wider attention at the ASB Classic in Auckland in early 2025, when her match against Naomi Osaka took place amid pro-Palestinian protests outside the venue. That episode did not directly concern the Billie Jean King Cup, but it offered a recent example of how geopolitical tensions have intersected with Israeli athletes on the tennis circuit.