Czechs host GB at historic Prague venue, Italy to face France in Sardinia

Czech Republic will return to the I. Cesky Lawn Tennis Klub Praha, originally built to host the 1986 Federation Cup, when they take on Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Qualifiers in 15-16 April, while Italy will host France at the Tennis Club Alghero in Sardinia.

Eleven-time champions Czech Republic, who hosted the 2021 Billie Jean King Cup Finals at The O2 Arena in Prague in November, have chosen the outdoor clay court venue for the shot at returning to the Finals in 2022. It is their first meeting with Great Britain since 1995, and first at home, the two nations having claimed three wins apiece in the previous six encounters.

The I. Cesky Lawn Tennis Klub Praha hosted the 1986 Federation Cup, which saw Martina Navratilova return to the country of her birth for the first time in over a decade after defecting to the United States. USA went on to win the title, defeating Czechoslovakia in the final, while Great Britain prevailed in the consolation event following their first-round exit from the 32-team event.

Czech Republic are contesting the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers for the first time, having received a wild card to reach the 2021 Finals alongside 2019 finalists France and Australia. Great Britain contested the inaugural Qualifiers in 2020, falling 3-1 to Slovakia in Bratislava before once again moving within one tie of the Finals with a 3-1 victory over Mexico in last April’s Play-offs.

France head to Sardinia for Italy clash

Three-time champions France will travel to the Italian island of Sardinia to take on Italy in their Qualifiers clash, where the outdoor hard courts of the Tennis Club Alghero await.

Julien Benneteau’s side, who claimed their third title back in 2019, have won eight of their 11 previous meetings with four-time winners Italy, most recently in 2016. The hosts bounced back from relegation to Europe/Africa Group I in 2020 by winning the event in Estonia before defeating Romania in the Play-offs to earn their Qualifiers berth.

Alghero, a regular fixture on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, is staging a Billie Jean King Cup tie for the first time, having previously hosted Italy’s 4-1 win over Luxembourg in Davis Cup by Rakuten back in 2007.

The winners of these ties will advance to the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which is due to take place at the end of the year, while the beaten sides will contest the 2022 Play-offs.