Conchita Martinez brings a taste of the women's World Cup of Tennis to Seville

Local Seville tennis players were given a unique opportunity to spend time with Conchita Martinez on Wednesday, as the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals Tournament Director attended a special session at the Real Club Tenis Pineda.

 

Martinez, who won the competition five times during her career, talked through her experience of representing her nation in the women’s World Cup of Tennis on 53 occasions. She also invited 10 local female players to attend the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville (7-12 November) - tickets for which are on sale now.

 

Martinez said: "I want to bring this event closer to all audiences who follow tennis and women's sport, and it was fantastic to meet such passionate tennis players and fans today. I am looking forward to seeing them again at the Finals in the beautiful city of Seville, and I’m sure they will enjoy watching some of the world’s best tennis players there in November. Tickets are on sale now so I would encourage all fans to book their place in the stands to support their team."

 

The Finals will see 12 teams competing to take home the coveted trophy and don the iconic Billie Blue jackets, designed by official Billie Jean King Cup apparel partner Tory Burch. The Billie Jean King Cup is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, having been contested for the first time at the Queen’s Club in London in June 1963. 

 
2022 runners-up Australia will contest the first tie of this year’s event on Tuesday 7 November, with Alicia Molik’s team up against Finals debutants Slovenia. 2023 winners Switzerland begin their campaign later on the opening day, taking on 11-time world champions Czechia. 
 

Spain’s Group C ties against Canada and Poland will be played in the evening sessions on Wednesday 8 November and Friday 10 November, respectively. Two match courts will be in use for ties on Thursday 9-Friday 10 November.  Teams will compete in four groups of three during the group stage, with the four group winners advancing to the semi-finals on Saturday 11 November. The final on Sunday 12 November will see the two remaining teams battle to be crowned world champions.

 

The full schedule for the week is available here.

 

Since its re-brand from Fed Cup in 2020, the Billie Jean King Cup has continued to develop as a bold, powerful platform for the growth of women’s tennis across the world. It was broadcast in an unprecedented 196 territories in 2022, and a record 134 nations have entered this year.

 

Champions Switzerland took home a record $2m for their triumph at the 2022 Finals in Glasgow. The ITF also welcomed new title sponsor Gainbridge and new apparel partner Tory Burch in 2022, joining Microsoft and Magellan as the global sponsors of the event. 

 

The ITF announced a partnership with the Junta de Andalucia earlier this year, which will see the region host multiple ITF major team events in 2023.

 

The Davis Cup Finals will take place in Malaga for a second consecutive year on 21-26 November, while the Davis Cup Juniors Finals (week commencing 30 October) and Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Juniors Finals (week commencing 6 November) will both be hosted in Cordoba.

 

Today’s event in Seville was also attended by José María Arrabal, Secretary General for Sport of the Junta de Andalucía.

 

He said: "Together with the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga and junior Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Cordoba, we can boast that the eyes of tennis fans worldwide are about to be on our community. This brings responsibilities, but also opportunities to promote the Andalusia brand. The impact that these sporting events will generate in our land can be significant.

 

"The Andalusian Government is committed to women's sport with events like the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and the many others that we sponsor throughout the year. We also have programmes promoting equality between men and women in sport and encourage the participation of women in Andalusian sports federations. It is also very important for us that the Billie Jean King Cup has achieved the equalization of prize money with respect to the Davis Cup."