Misplaced Pages

#392607

24-713: The Billie Jean King Cup (or the BJK Cup ) is the premier international team competition in women's tennis, launched as the Federation Cup in 1963 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The name was changed to the Fed Cup in 1995, and changed again in September 2020 in honor of former World No. 1 Billie Jean King . The Billie Jean King Cup is

48-619: A British resident of the United States, Mary Hardwick Hare , presented a dossier proving that support for such an event was overwhelming, persuading the ITF that it was a 'good idea' to have a team championship played over one week in a different venue each year. 40 years after Wightman's idea of a women's Davis Cup , it became a reality. In 1963, the ITF launched the Federation Cup to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Open to all nations

72-577: A first round win, 400 for a second round win and 600 for a third round win. The current ranking points and bonus points distribution tables for the Fed Cup are shown below: Bonus points, as shown above, for defeating higher ranked nations will be added when appropriate to each tie in World Group, Group I and Group II. In the Groups I, II and III a nation's points are determined by its overall finishing position. Formats vary according to

96-505: A home and away knock-out basis, and take place over a weekend in the early part of the year. World Group Semi-finals and Final are played over on a home and away knock-out basis, and take place over a weekend in July (Semi-finals) and September (Final). Play-off ties for World Group and World Group II will also be played on a home and away knock-out basis taking place in July. The choice of ground for First Round, Semi-finals and Play-off ties

120-560: Is calculated following a weighted sum formula, in which recent results are weighted more heavily. After each World Group round, the ranking period adjusts, and points earned in the last year period have a weighting factor of 100% in the points total. At the same time, the weighting factor for the points earned until the same round in the previous three years is reduced to 75% (for points earned one to two years ago), 50% (for points earned two to three years ago) and 25% (for points earned three to four years ago). Ranking points are awarded only to

144-409: Is contested in a best of five matches format, and is played across two days. On the first day there are two singles matches, and then the reverse singles matches take place on the following day. The final match is a doubles. In Zonal Groups I, II and III, ties are played over the best of three matches (two singles and a doubles). The First Round Ties in the World Group and World Group II are played on

168-626: Is decided by lot or goes automatically to one of the competing nations. As Groups I, II and III are played in a round robin format in all three zones, each event takes place at a single venue over one week. These are held in the first half of the year (to allow promotion of teams to the World Group II Play-off ties in the second half of the year), and dates and venues are decided by the BJK Cup Committee. Source: Players must now be aged 14 and over The Heart Award

192-514: Is the ITF's annual "MVP" award related to the Billie Jean King Cup, which "aims to recognise players who have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the team." The award was inaugurated in 2009. For more information, see ITF rankings Change since previous ranking update Source: 1963 Federation Cup (tennis) The 1963 Federation Cup

216-683: The Davis Cup are shown below: Bonus points, as shown above, for defeating higher ranked nations will be added when appropriate to each tie in World Group, Group I and Group II. Bonus points do not apply in Groups III and IV. If the number of teams in Europe/Africa Groups I and II exceeds 16 or the number of teams in Asia/Oceania and Americas Groups I and II exceeds eight, then 200 points will be awarded for

240-749: The Queen's Club in London , United Kingdom on grass courts. Australia vs. Belgium Hungary vs. Denmark South Africa vs. Czechoslovakia France vs. West Germany Norway vs. Austria Canada vs. Great Britain Switzerland vs. Netherlands Italy vs. United States Australia vs. Hungary South Africa vs. France Austria vs. Great Britain Netherlands vs. United States Australia vs. South Africa Great Britain vs. United States ITF rankings The ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking

264-833: The BJK Cup nations compete in Zonal Competition events, which are split into three zones: The Americas Zone, the Asia/Oceania Zone and the Europe/Africa Zone. In each zone there are two groups, Group I being the higher and Group II the lower, except for the Europe/Africa Zone, which also has a Group III. Within the Group zonal regions, teams are split into pools and play against each other in a round robin format. The exact format of each Group event, and promotion and relegation between them, varies according to

SECTION 10

#1732772668393

288-516: The Davis Cup, there is an additional bonus for a nation that wins a tie in the opponent's home ground: a 25% bonus is added to the total of round points and ranking bonus points (if any). At the Fed Cup only, nations that win by walkover are awarded round points but no bonus points, and no points are awarded for consolation events. The current ranking points and bonus points distribution tables for

312-469: The champion nation in the opening year. However, it was to be Australia in the early years, winning seven of the next eleven championships. Around 1980 the United States was able to establish some significant mark on the competition setting in future years a very high standard for others to compete against. The first Federation Cup had attracted 16 entry teams, despite no prize money and teams having to meet their own expenses. When sponsorship became available,

336-561: The competition became a resounding success. The inaugural event attracted 16 countries. The competition was supported by the top players right from the start. Held at the Queen's Club , in London, the first contest was between Australia and the United States . Grand Slam champions Darlene Hard , Billie Jean King , Margaret Smith and Lesley Turner all proudly representing their country on court. The United States would emerge

360-571: The elite World Group and World Group II each year (eight in World Group and eight in World Group II). They reach World Group and World Group II as follows: Once in the World Group or World Group II, four nations will be seeded in each. The decision as to which nations will be seeded is made by the BJK Cup Committee, according to the ITF BJK Cup Nations Ranking. At the levels below the World Group and World Group II,

384-441: The format since 1995. The format change implemented in 2005 incorporates an eight Nation World Group I and eight nation World Group II both playing home-and-away over three weekends throughout the year. Three regional groups compete and there are promotions and relegations based on results. The 2021 edition is set to have US$ 12 million in prize money. While many nations enter the BJK Cup each year, only 16 countries qualify for

408-402: The host nations viewing their involvement as providing an opportunity to boost their national game. For the 1992 , a regional group qualifying format was introduced. In 1995, the event's name was shortened to the Fed Cup, and a new home-and-away format was adopted as per the Davis Cup, so that women could play for their country in their own country. There have been a number of smaller changes to

432-859: The number of participating teams. Two teams are always promoted from Europe/Africa Group I to that year's World Group II Play-Offs, while one team each go to the World Group II Play-Offs from Americas Group I and Asia/Oceania Zone Group I. This structure has been implemented since 2016. 8 countries 4 countries from World Group I + 4 countries from World Group II 8 countries 4 countries from World Group II + 2 countries from Group One Euro/African Zone + 1 country from Group One Americas Zone + 1 country from Group One Asia/Oceania Zone 8 countries 15 countries 7 countries 11 countries 7 countries 15 countries 16 countries In World Group and World Group II, and World Group and World Group II Play-off ties, each tie

456-551: The number of teams expanded dramatically, first by the Colgate Group in 1976 , and, from 1981 to 1994 by the Japanese communications and computer giant NEC . In 1994, there were 73 nations competing, with the host nation of a Federation Cup week was now being required to build a special tennis complex, giving rise to what became known as the Federation Cup "legacy." The additional costs of each event could be offset with

480-565: The only countries to have held both Cups at the same time. In 1919, Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman had an idea for a women's team tennis competition. This was not adopted but she persisted, presenting a trophy at the 1923 annual contest between the United States and Great Britain, named the Wightman Cup . Nell Hopman , wife of the legendary Australian Davis Cup Captain Harry Hopman , later took up Mrs Wightman's original idea. In 1962,

504-478: The winning nation of a competition tie at every round. Victories in World Group rounds are worth more points than those in Zone Groups, and ties at the later rounds of the competition are progressively worth more points. Bonus points are also awarded for a nation that defeats a higher-ranked nation, but only if the latter nation is ranked in the top 64 for the Davis Cup, or in the top 75 for the Fed Cup. Unique to

SECTION 20

#1732772668393

528-480: The world's largest annual women's international team sports competition in terms of the number of nations that compete. The current chair is Katrina Adams . The Czech Republic dominated the BJK Cup in the 2010s, winning six of ten competitions in the decade. The men's equivalent of the Billie Jean King Cup is the Davis Cup , and the Czech Republic, Canada, Australia, Russia, Italy and the United States are

552-489: Was launched at the end of 2001 and the ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking was introduced a year later. Both rankings are updated following every World Group round and are used for seeding the highest ranked teams in the draws for each group in the competitions' structures. The ITF Davis Cup and Fed Cup rankings are based in a rolling four year cumulative system. However, the points total for each nation

576-399: Was the first edition of what is now known as the Fed Cup . The tournament was created provide a team competition for women, similar to the Davis Cup men's competition. 16 nations participated in the first event, which was held at the Queen's Club in London , United Kingdom from 17–20 June. United States won the first title, defeating Australia in the final. All ties were played at

#392607