World champions Italy finish year at No. 1 in nations rankings

By winning their fifth Billie Jean King Cup title, the Italians have begun their third spell at the top of the rankings. Italy also held the top ranking from November 2009 to April 2012 and from November 2013 to April 2014, and their four other Billie Jean King Cup triumphs came in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013.

The Italian women’s team’s ascent to the summit of the rankings matches the achievement of the men’s team, who reached No. 1 in the Davis Cup nations rankings for the first time following their title-victory in 2023. By successfully defending their title this year, Italy’s men have extended their lead at the top of the Davis Cup nations rankings.

Italy become the fourth nation to simultaneously top the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup nations rankings – after France (April 2004-September 2004 and November 2019-November 2021), Russia (December 2006-July 2009) and Czechia (April 2013-November 2013 and April 2014-November 2015).

Runners-up Slovakia have ended the season at No. 4 in the rankings after contesting their second Billie Jean King Cup final this season. Slovakia won the title on their only previous appearance in the final in 2002 and were ranked at No. 1 when the first Billie Jean King Cup nations rankings were published in November 2002. Their current position of No. 4 is their highest ranking since 2005.

Sandwiched between Italy and Slovakia are 2023 world champions Canada at No. 2 and Czechia at No. 3. Australia, who were runners-up in 2022, round out the Top 5. This year’s semi-finalists, Poland and Great Britain, finish the year at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively – both of which are their best positions since the rankings were introduced in 2022.