Elite lineup announced for Billie Jean King Cup Finals featuring Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina and Emma Raducanu
WTA
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals are taking shape, with the lineup of eight teams vying for the title now announced. The action will unfold at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center from September 16-21, on indoor hardcourts. The qualifying round determined the final six teams, who will join host nation China and defending champions Italy in the tournament.
The roster of players for the tournament includes many of the WTA Tour's biggest stars, with Jessica Pegula, Zheng Qinwen, Elena Rybakina, Emma Raducanu, and Paula Badosa among those set to compete for the 2025 title.
Eight teams looking for the trophy
The qualifying rounds were played during the second week of April this year, seeing several favored nations eliminated, including Iga Swiatek's Poland, 2023 champions Canada (featuring Leylah Fernandez and Bianca Andreescu), and Linda Noskova's Czech Republic.
Defending champions Italy, led by Jasmine Paolini, had already qualified and will be looking to repeat their title this year. They join host nation China, led by Zheng Qinwen, who secured their spot in the Finals with a wildcard as the home team for this edition of the BJK Cup Finals.
Only one of the six favorites managed to qualify: Great Britain, with Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter, successfully navigated the group stage. The rest of the qualified teams include Japan, Spain, United States, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.
Direct Elimination Format
As in previous editions, the ties will be decided by head-to-head matches between the teams, consisting of two singles matches and a doubles match if necessary, all played as best-of-three sets. The team rosters are set, and we could see some exciting potential matchups from the very first round of the tournament.
The Paris 2024 gold medalist Zheng Qinwen returns to represent China, this time in pursuit of the BJK Cup title
Top Half
Defending champions Italy are the first seeds and have been drawn against host nation China in the upper half of the draw. We'll have a more-than-interesting duel between two Top 10 players: Zheng Qinwen against Jasmine Paolini, both leaders of their respective teams.
The winners will potentially face off in the semifinals against the victor between Spain (4th seed) and Ukraine, both surprises from the group stage. Here, Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina are the highest-ranked players, though the Ukrainian roster also notably includes Marta Kostyuk, who will open the day facing Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Bottom Half
The bottom half of the draw will see second seed Great Britain take on Japan. The most anticipated match will be between two former Grand Slam champions: Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu could face each other in a key match to advance, complemented by the presence of Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal on the British team.
The final match will feature the United States (3rd seed) against Kazakhstan. The North Americans will not have Coco Gauff, but they have little to worry about with three Top 10 players in their lineup, including Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, and Emma Navarro. It will be up to Elena Rybakina and Yulia Putintseva to seek a victory against what, on paper, is the most complete team in the entire main draw.
Team Nominations
China
Captain: Yang Wei-Guang
| Player | Singles Rank | Doubles Rank |
| Zheng Qinwen | 6 | - |
| Wang Xinyu | 40 | 95 |
| Yuan Yue | 91 | 59 |
| Zhang Shuai | 112 | 15 |
| Wang Xiyu | 170 | 211 |
Great Britain
Captain: Anne Keothavong
| Player | Singles Rank | Doubles Rank |
| Katie Boulter | 41 | 321 |
| Sonay Kartal | 45 | 267 |
| Emma Raducanu | 46 | - |
| Harriet Dart | 198 | 77 |
| Olivia Nicholls | - | 26 |
Italy
Captain: Tathiana Garbin
| Player | Singles Rank | Doubles Rank |
| Jasmine Paolini | 9 | 6 |
| Lucia Bronzetti | 70 | 170 |
| Elisabetta Cocciaretto | 77 | 143 |
| Sara Errani | 289 | 6 |
Japan
Captain: Ai Sugiyama
| Player | Singles Rank | Doubles Rank |
| Naomi Osaka | 51 | - |
| Moyuka Uchijima | 73 | 86 |
| Ena Shibahara | 117 | 68 |
| Nao Hibino | 176 | 141 |
| Shuko Aoyama | - | 49 |
Kazakhstan
Captain: Yuriy Schukin
| Player | Singles Rank | Doubles Rank |
| Elena Rybakina | 12 | 569 |
| Yulia Putintseva | 43 | 57 |
| Zarina Diyas | 269 | - |
| Zhibek Kulambayeva | 292 | 128 |
| Anna Danilina | 905 | 10 |
Spain
Captain: Anabel Medina Garrigues
| Player | Singles Rank | Doubles Rank |
| Paula Badosa | 10 | 149 |
| Jessica Bouzas Maneiro | 52 | - |
| Cristina Bucsa | 94 | 42 |
| Nuria Parrizas Díaz | 100 | - |
Ukraine
Captain: Mikhail Filima
| Player | Singles Rank | Doubles Rank |
| Elina Svitolina | 13 | - |
| Marta Kostyuk | 27 | 85 |
| Dayana Yastremska | 33 | 495 |
| Lyudmyla Kichenok | - | 16 |
| Nadiia Kichenok | - | 60 |
United States
Captain: Lindsay Davenport
| Player | Singles Rank | Doubles Rank |
| Jessica Pegula | 2 | 69 |
| Madison Keys | 8 | 541 |
| Emma Navarro | 11 | - |
| Hailey Baptiste | 50 | 239 |
| Taylor Townsend | 97 | 2 |
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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