Voting open for Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award at the Finals and Play-offs
13/12/2023 12:00
The nominees have been announced for the Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award for the 2023 Finals and Play-offs in November.
As always, the winners will be chosen by you, the fans. This year, the vote will take place across Billie Jean King Cup social media channels – visit us on X and Instagram to cast your votes!
Voting closes at 17:00 GMT on Monday 18 December and the winners will be announced later that week.
The Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award aims to honour players who have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the team.
Continue reading to find out more about each of the nominees, and remember to visit our social media pages to vote for your favourites.
2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals
Leylah Fernandez (CAN)
Fernandez won all five matches she contested as Canada won the Billie Jean King Cup title for the first time, including a victory against Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the semi-final, and secured winning point in the final with a win over Jasmine Paolini.
Storm Hunter (AUS)
Hunter, the doubles world No. 1, joined the Australian team later than planned after poor weather delayed the end of the WTA Finals in Cancun the week prior to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. Nevertheless, she won all three matches she played, including a singles victory, as the 2022 runners-up fell in the group stage this year.
Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)
Krejcikova was also a late arrival into Seville after the WTA Finals, but she enjoyed a strong week in Andalucia, winning three of the four matches she played as Czechia narrowly missed out on a place in the final, falling at the semi-final stage for the second straight year.
Jasmine Paolini (ITA)
Paolini enjoyed an excellent week as Italian No. 1, leading her team to the Billie Jean King Cup final for the first time in a decade. She won three of the four matches she played as Italy finished as runners-up to Canada, most-notably a high quality three-set victory over France’s Caroline Garcia.
2023 Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs
Katie Boulter (GBR)
Boulter won both matches she played in straight sets to ensure victory for Great Britain over Sweden in London and seal her nation’s place in the Qualifiers once again for next season.
Fernanda Contreras (MEX)
Contreras was the hero of Mexico’s dramatic victory over Austria, winning two singles matches and a decisive doubles match which went to a final-set tiebreak to lead her team into the Qualifiers for the first time.
Viktoria Hruncakova (SVK)
Hruncakova recovered from a set down twice to record victories against Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska and Julia Riera and secure Slovakia’s place in the 2024 Qualifiers.
Anhelina Kalinina (UKR)
Kalinina recorded a pair of straight-sets victories as Ukraine defeated Netherlands on neutral ground in Vilnius, Lithuania, ensuring that the Ukrainians will compete in the Qualifiers again in 2024.
