The LTA has today announced Coventry as the city to stage Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifier against France on April 14-15. The event will take place in the 6,000 square metre Indoor Arena at Coventry Building Society Arena.
The tie in Coventry will be one of nine Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers taking place around the world the same weekend in April. The winning teams from each tie will join 2022 finalists Switzerland and Australia in the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Last November, Great Britain reached the semi-finals of the ‘World Cup of Tennis’ in 2022 for the first time since 1981. France, who most recently won their third Billie Jean King Cup trophy in 2019, secured their place in the 2023 Qualifiers having beaten Netherlands in the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs in November.
The two nations have faced each other three times previously in the competition but not for 42 years, with France winning 2-1 in 1975 but Great Britain winning the last two in 1976 and 1981.
Chris Pollard, LTA Digital and Events Director said “It is great to once again have the opportunity to host a home tie for our Billie Jean King Cup team and give tennis fans in Britain more opportunities to experience world class international tennis. We are delighted to be bringing the Billie Jean King Cup to Coventry as part of our vision to open up tennis to new audiences. The Coventry Building Society Arena hosted a victorious tie for the British Davis Cup team in 2013 and hopefully the Billie Jean King Cup team can repeat that success in April.”
Paul Michael, Commercial Director of Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be bringing world class tennis to Coventry once again with the Billie Jean King Cup. It is a fantastic opportunity for people across the Midlands to enjoy international tennis on their doorstep and we’re expecting a capacity crowd to come and support the British team. This is the latest in a string of high-profile events we have hosted recently at the venue and it is another great opportunity to showcase Coventry and our venue on the international stage.”
Cllr Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member, Public Health and Sport, said: “The city will be hosting yet another high-profile, international sporting event and I am so excited about this. Whilst we will welcome international visitors to watch tennis, we are making high-profile, professional sport even more accessible once again for local people. Coventry Building Society Arena will do a fantastic job of hosting, as they have done with previous sporting events that we have worked together on. This is another opportunity for us to demonstrate to the young and aspiring sportspeople of our city what can be done. I really look forward to hearing more news on the Billie Jean King Cup in Coventry.”
Tickets will go on sale next week on International Women’s Day from 10:00am on 8 March, via the Coventry Building Society Arena Website: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cbsarena/Events
Previously the Arena played host to a memorable Davis Cup tie in April 2013 when Great Britain defeated Russia 3-2 in a Euro/Africa Group One tie in April 2013. The victory marked the first time in 83 years GB had come from 0-2 down to win a tie.