Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Italy eye hat-trick of titles as tennis star set to collide
New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) 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
Final (2:30 PM)
Fans in India can watch the tournament on the Veto OTT platform.
–IANS
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