Several of the WTA stars looking to play a part in the 61st edition of the Billie Jean King Cup have learned the identity of their respective opponents.
The ITF released the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup qualifying draw on Sunday, featuring some breathtaking ties. Sixteen countries will compete in eight home-and-away ties to secure a place in the Finals in November 2024, while eight losing qualifiers will go to the 2024 play-off round.
The top-seeded nation in the qualifying round, Australia, will lock horns with Mexico. The 2022 runners-up will hope to improve from this year's showing where they finished bottom of their group in the Finals. They'll hope to have a fit-again Ajla Tomljanovic back in their ranks by then.
One of the ties of the round pits Great Britain up against three-time champions France in a redux of last year. Former British No. 1 Emma Raducanu will look to meet the ITF's eligibility requirement of being selected for the team in order to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
France won this year's tie 3-1 in Coventry and sent the Brits to an eventful play-off tie against Sweden which they successfully won. Revenge will be on their mind when they meet again in April 2024. Poland will face 2022 champions Switzerland in another blockbuster.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has a big role to play for Poland in next year's team competitions, beginning with the United Cup in January. She'll then look to confirm her availability against a depleted Swiss team that will most likely miss their key player, Belinda Bencic, due to maternity leave.
It's a new era for the United States team in 2024 following the departure of Kathy Rinaldi as coach. The woman tasked to fill her shoes is former WTA No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, who will look to emulate Rinaldi by winning the Billie Jean King Cup in her first bout as coach.
The USA were eliminated in the group stage at the 2023 Finals after losing some of their big-name stars due to scheduling complications. It remains to be seen if the likes of Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will be recalled to the team to face Belgium.
Elena Rybakina and Yulia Putinseva will likely be the central pillars for the Kazakhstan team which have been drawn to face Japan. Naomi Osaka has announced that 2024 will be her comeback year and there is a good chance we might see her at this tournament.
Brazil and Germany are set for a rematch. In 2023, the Germans won the tie pretty convincingly (3-1). But Brazil's 4-0 play-off win over South Korea to earn their spot in the qualifiers should give them hope of turning the tables.
The other two ties pits Slovakia against Slovenia, while Romania will face Ukraine. The eight ties will be played on Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, 2024.
The ITF also announced that the Finals will be held in Seville for the second year in a row. The means tournament hosts Spain are direct entrants in the BJKC Finals. 2023 semifinalists Czechia have been awarded a wild card into the Finals which will be held in November 2024.
2024 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers Draw:
| Home Team | Away Team |
|---|---|
| Australia (1) | Mexico |
| Switzerland (2) | Poland |
| France (3) | Great Britain |
| USA (4) | Belgium |
| Japan | Kazakstan (5) |
| Brazil | Germany (6) |
| Slovakia (7) | Slovenia |
| Ukraine | Romania (8) |
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