World Champions Canada climb to No. 1 in year-end Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Nations Rankings

Following their triumph in Seville, Heidi El Tabakh’s team have climbed five places from their previous position of No. 6 before the Finals. This year’s runners-up Italy rise from No. 8 to No. 5, their highest position since November 2016. 
 

The Canadian team, spearheaded by 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, won their first title at the women’s World Cup of Tennis on Sunday, after defeating Italy 2-0. The victory completes an impressive period of growth for Canada over the past three editions of the Finals, after group stage exits in 2021 and 2022. The Canadian team were playing at World Group II level as recently as 2019. 
 

Canada have become just the 8th nation to hold the No. 1 ranking since the rankings were introduced in November 2002 – alongside Slovakia, France, Russia, Italy, Czechia, Australia and Switzerland. 
 

While Italy were not able to seal a historic fifth title 10 years on from their fourth in 2013, Tathiana Garbin’s team impressed this year, winning seven out of eight matches in three ties en route to the final.   
 

Elsewhere, 2023 semi-finalists Czechia move up from No. 5 to No. 4, while 2022 champions Switzerland drop to No. 3 having been replaced by Canada in top spot. 
 

The Billie Jean King Cup Nations Rankings are published following each competition week and reflect the performance of teams over the previous four seasons, with recent results weighted more heavily. The current rankings cover a five-year period due to the 2020 and 2021 seasons being combined as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. 
 

2023 year-end Top 10

1. Canada

2. Australia

3. Switzerland

4. Czechia

5. Italy

6. France

7. Spain

8. USA

9. Kazakhstan

10. Germany