It is Billie Jean King Cup Finals time again once more albeit not in its usual slot with the tournament set to take place in Shenzhen, China for the first time between September 16-21.Defending champions Italy who won last year when the tournament was held in tandem with the Davis Cup Finals will defend their title with Jasmine Paolini again set to lead from the front. Alongside Italy, other favourites include USA who have Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro in a strong squad taken to China. Elena Rybakina leads Kazakhstan while Great Britain’s charge relies on Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal. Emma Raducanu was initially entered but has decided instead to play in the Korea Open instead and is chasing ranking points over country pride.

But given that she is playing catch up and wants regular game time under new coach Francisco Roig, it perhaps makes sense. It is a mixed bag with Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk rising to the fore for Ukraine for instance. But Zheng Qinwen and Naomi Osaka not being involved has left hosts China and Japan without their marquee names.

Albeit Zheng who entered late last week then withdrew perhaps was a tall order to play after surgery. Injury wise also Paula Badosa is also set to play this is despite her recent travails.

The ties consist of best-of-three rubbers played on one day. This consists of two singles and where needed a doubles match. The finals feature eight teams competing in straight knockout. The move to this slot in the calendar is perhaps a tad surprising but also a bit of genius also maybe for the future.

Most of the remainder of the season takes place in Asia and last season, the trek from Europe for this to play in Riyadh for many of the top names meant that some were entered then didn’t play leaving depleted fields. Most of the big names in this case are already going to Asia for the next few weeks anyway so in the future could attract even bigger names if they qualify in the cycle. It also provides tennis again in Shenzhen after they signed a huge deal to play the WTA Finals there only for it to be axed in wake of the Peng Shuai saga over there.

How to watch

But how to watch this week’s action you may ask. In the USA, it will be shown on Tennis Channel and in Australia, it will be on free-to-air on Nine as well as beIN sports.

In China for those wanting to catch their home hopes, it is CCTV, Guangdong Sports Channel, iQIYI, Migu, Bilibili, Great Sports (Shanghai Media Group) and Youku. In Japan, it is U-Next.

Kazakhstan will show the event on Sport+ while for Europe, it is on beIN in Frane as well as Tennis Channel in Germany. In Great Britain, the GB matches will be on free-to-air TV on the BBC while Tennis Channel show the remainder. In Italy, it is on Super Tennis.

Ziggo TV show the tournament in the Netherlands, while in Spain it is TVE and Tennis Channel. Ukraine finally show it on Setanta. Full listings are below for all regions as per the tournament.How to watch Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Continent
Territory
Broadcaster

AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaSuperSport
AmericasArgentinaTYC
AmericasBrazilESPN
AmericasCanadaTVA & CBC (both for Canada matches only)
AmericasCaribbeanFlow Sports
AmericasColombiaWin Sports (Colombia matches only)
AmericasUSATennis Channel
Asia & PacificAustraliaNine* & beIN
Asia & PacificChinaCCTV, Guangdong Sports Channel, iQIYI, Migu, Bilibili, Great Sports (Shanghai Media Group), Youku
Asia & PacificIndonesiaIEG
Asia & PacificJapanU-Next
Asia & PacificKazakhstanSport +
Asia & PacificSingaporeStarHub
Asia & PacificThailandTrue Visions
Asia & PacificVietnamVTVCab
EuropeAustriaTennis Channel
EuropeBelgiumVRT
EuropeCzechiaCeska Televize
EuropeDenmarkDR* (Denmark matches only)
EuropeFinlandYLE (Finals only)
EuropeFrancebeIN
EuropeGermanyTennis Channel
EuropeGreat BritainBBC* (GB matches only) & Tennis Channel
EuropeHungaryMTVA
EuropeItalySuper Tennis
EuropeMaltaPBS*
EuropeNetherlandsZiggo TV
EuropePolandPolsat*
EuropePortugalSport TV
EuropeRomaniaDigi Sport
EuropeSlovakiaRTVS*
EuropeSpainTVE* & Tennis Channel
EuropeSwitzerlandSRG SSR* & Tennis Channel
EuropeTürkiyeS Sport
EuropeUkraineSetanta
Middle East & North AfricaIsraelSport 5
Middle East & North AfricaMENAbeIN