IN big news this week, the 2020-21 Billie Jean King Cup Finals schedule has been announced, with the previously known Fed Cup event changing its name and this year’s structure due to continued disruptions to the international tennis calendar, seeing the World Group known as the Finals in this year’s edition.
The Billie Jean King Cup will play out from November 1-6, 2021, at O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic. Four groups of three nations (A, B, C, D) will participate in the indoor hard-court round robin playoffs from November 1-4, with group winners progressing to semi-finals (Friday, November 5) with the final set to play on Saturday, November 6. This year’s Finals consist of two previous finalists in 2019 (France and Australia), one host nation (Czech Republic), one wild card (Canada) and eight winners of a qualifier round in February, 2020. Those eight nations are Belarus, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.
Each of the 12 nations will participate in two group stage ties to determine the eventual winner of each group, consisting of two singles matches (best of three sets) and one doubles match. Team nominations will be announced on October 4, with nations able to nominate up to five players and three able to be changed up until the starting date of the event.
Monday, November 1
France vs. Canada
Belgium vs. Belarus
Czech Republic vs. Germany
Spain vs. Slovakia
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Tuesday, November 2
Australia vs. Belgium
Russian Tennis Federation vs. Canada
United States vs. Slovakia
Germany vs. Switzerland
Wednesday, November 3
France vs. Russian Tennis Federation
United States vs. Switzerland
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Thursday, November 4
Australia vs. Belarus
Czech Republic vs. Switzerland
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Friday, November 5
Semi-final 1
Semi-final 2
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Saturday, November 6
4:00pm CET
Final – winner of semi-final 1 vs. winner of semi-final 2
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GROUP A: France (1), Russian Tennis Federation (RTF), Canada
GROUP B: Australia (2), Belarus, Belgium
GROUP C: USA (3), Spain, Slovakia
GROUP D: Czech Republic (4), Germany, Switzerland
Picture credit: WTA Tour
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