Billie Jean King believes it’s important to have ‘World Cup’ of tennis, advocates events like United Cup

Billie Jean King has expressed a feeling that is probably every tennis fan's dream. She wishes to have a 'Tennis World Cup' on the tour, where both ATP and WTA will merge together. King wants every player to represent their country.

No video or image available for this post.

Billie Jean King has expressed a feeling that is probably every tennis fan’s dream. She wishes to have a ‘Tennis World Cup’ on the tour, where both ATP and WTA will merge together. King wants every player to represent their country.

King stated that she would be delighted if the women’s Billie Jean King Cup and the men’s Davis Cup were united to form a tennis World Cup. As per her, it’s really important that there is a format like the World Cup so the whole world understands.

YouTube video

“I think it’s really important to have a World Cup for tennis. The whole world understands a World Cup. They know it’s country versus country,” said King.

FS Video

She expressed how she always wanted both male and female players to be together and play. She loves it when all the players are together. “I think we can enhance it and make more of a focus on us. I think people like it when we are all happy together,” she explained. (H/T: SkySports)

Conchita Martinez, tournament director of the BJK Cup, supports the notion. But her condition is that only if women are given equal time on show courts and equal access to practice courts. 

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz releases statement confirming surgery for injury being necessary for participation in Paris Masters and ATP Finals

Top Women players who withdraw from Billie Jean King Cup finals

Four of the world’s top women’s tennis players have withdrawn from the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. It has caused a clash with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals and team restrictions.

Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula (Credits: The NYT, Olympic, WTA and CNN)

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, a powerhouse on the court, will be conspicuously absent because Belarus is still excluded from team tournaments as a result of the invasion on Ukraine. The absence of Sabalenka complicates the already difficult discussions surrounding the possible combination of the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup.

To make matters worse, the withdrawals of Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula have harmed the Billie Jean King Cup Finals lineup. They all have opted out due to a tough schedule made more difficult by the proximity of the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico.

King acknowledged, “There are a thousand questions that need resolving before the two tournaments can become one.“

In case you missed it: