Bogdan, Hibino, Raducanu and Siegemund in line for a Heart Award
10/05/2024 16:59
The shortlist for the first Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award of 2024 features a selection of players who represented their countries with aplomb during the most recent round of the competition.
By Ed Pearson
Voting is now open on the official BJK Cup social media channels so you have the power to decide who should win a Heart Award for their performance during the April ties.
Players are divided into four categories: Qualifiers, Americas I, Asia/Oceania I and Europe/Africa I.
Heart Award winners receive a donation from the ITF to a charity of their choice ($3,000 for the Qualifiers winner, $2,000 for the Group I winners).
The Heart Award is now in its 15th year, with previous winners including the likes of Ashleigh Barty, Leylah Fernandez, Petra Kvitova and Iga Swiatek.
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The Qualifiers Shortlist
Ana Bogdan (ROU)
The Romanian won two of the three matches that she contested during her country’s incredible flightback against Ukraine. She clinched an epic encounter against Elina Svitolina to kickstart just the ninth comeback from 0-2 down in the competition’s history. She also partnered Jaqueline Cristian to defeat Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok and take Romania to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the first time.
Nao Hibino (JPN)
Japan’s Hibino won both the matches that she played, including defeating Yulia Putintseva in a final set tiebreak to seal the tie and send Japan to the BJK Cup Finals for the first time.
Emma Raducanu (GBR)
Great Britain’s Raducanu won both her singles matches against higher-ranked opponents from a set down. On French clay, she defeated world No. 23 Caroline Garcia before surpassing Diane Parry in a final set tiebreak to send Great Britain to the Finals for just the second time.
Laura Siegemund (GER)
The German won both her singles matches, with her defeat of Brazilian No. 1 Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets in front of a boisterous Brazilian crowd making life very difficult for the South American hosts. She also overcame Carolina Alves to secure the winning point in the tie.
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Americas I Shortlist
Yuliano Lizarazo (COL)
Won eight of the nine matches she contested across singles and doubles, competing in all five ties as Colombia secured promotion to the Play-offs by finishing first in Americas I. In particular, played a part in securing both points in Colombia’s 2-1 victory against Argentina that ensured her nation finished top of Americas I, defeating Martina Capurro Taborda in singles before partnering Maria Perez-Garcia to defeat Julia Riera and Julieta Lara Estable.
Julia Riera (ARG)
Won all five singles matches she contested, competing in all five ties as Argentina secured promotion to the Play-offs by finishing second in Americas I. Secured the winning point in Argentina’s victories against Peru and Ecuador.
Asia/Oceania I shortlist
Jang Sujeong (KOR)
Won all three matches she contested in straight sets, including claiming the winning point in Korea, Republic’s victories against New Zealand and Chinese Taipei, as her nation qualified for the Play-offs by finishing second in Asia/Oceania I.
Wang Xinyu (CHN)
Won all four matches she contested across singles and doubles as China, P.R. secured promotion to the Play-offs by finishing top in Asia/Oceania I.
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Europe/Africa I shortlist
Suzan Lamens (NED)
Won all eight matches she contested across singles and doubles without dropping a set over the course of the week. In Pool B, she defeated world No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko during Netherlands’ 2-1 win against Latvia. In the 1st to 3rd Play-offs, Lamens then won both the singles and doubles matches in ties against Austria and Serbia to ensure her nation won both ties 2-1 to finish first in Europe/Africa Group I.
Clara Tauson (DEN)
Won all five matches she contested without dropping a set, including defeating world No. 6 Maria Sakkari to secure victory against Greece, as Denmark secured the final spot in the Play-offs from Europe/Africa I.
Voting closes at 2pm GMT on Friday 17 May.
