Reigning champions Switzerland face formidable group at 2023 BJK Cup Finals

It took 59 years for Switzerland to claim its first Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge title last November, but Heinz Guenthardt’s team face an almighty challenge to defend their 2022 crown after being drawn in the infamous ‘group of death’ for the 2023 Finals in Seville.

Wednesday’s draw for the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals (held at the ITF offices in London) pitted Switzerland alongside two serial winners for the year-end women’s World Cup of Tennis on 7-12 November – with the Swiss, 18-time champions USA and 11-time champions Czechia set to fight it out in Group A for a semi-final spot.

USA failed to emerge from the group stage at last year’s Finals in Glasgow at the hands of Czechia and will be hungry to make amends this year, while Petr Pala’s team will be out to avenge their loss to the eventual champions in the 2022 semi-finals.

Last year’s runners-up Australia have been drawn with Kazakhstan and Slovenia in Group B.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will hope to convert her recent individual success into team glory for Kazakhstan, who can also be assured of a stern challenge. Australia are always inspired when competing in green-and-gold and Slovenia, fresh from a stunning 0-2 comeback-win over Romania in April's Qualifiers, will be seeking further heroics when they compete at the Finals for the first time. 

Group C will feature five-time Billie Jean King Cup champions Spain alongside Canada and Poland, while an all-European Group D consists of 2019 winners France, who return to the Finals after missing out last year, alongside Italy and Germany. 

Group stage action takes place from Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 November. The four group winners will advance to the semi-finals, which will be played on Saturday 11 November, before the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Final takes place on Sunday 12 November.  

The 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs draw also took place on Wednesday, with eight ties scheduled to take place on a home-and-away basis on either Friday 10-Saturday 11 November or Saturday 11-Sunday 12 November.

Slovakia, Belgium, Great Britain, Brazil, Ukraine, Serbia, Japan and Austria have all been handed home ties, and can choose which of the above dates to play.  

Winning nations in the Play-offs will advance to the Qualifiers in 2024, while losing nations will compete in regional Group I events in 2024. 

2023 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals Draw

Group A
Switzerland (1)
Czechia
USA

Group B
Australia (2)
Kazakhstan
Slovenia

Group C
Spain (3)
Canada
Poland

Group D
France (4)
Italy
Germany

Semi-finals (Saturday 11 November)
Winner Group A v Winner Group C
Winner Group D v Winner Group B

Final (Sunday 12 November)
Winner Semi-final 1 v Winner Semi-final 2

All ties at the Finals consist of three matches: two singles matches followed by a doubles match.

2023 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Play-offs Draw