Billie Jean King says she would fortunately see the ladies’s cup competitors bearing her identify mixed with the boys’s Davis Cup into one World Cup of tennis.
Each workforce occasions conclude subsequent month, with the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Seville from 7 to 12 November and the Davis Cup from 21 to 26 November.
“I believe it is actually necessary to have a World Cup for tennis,” King mentioned.
“The entire world understands a World Cup. They know it is nation versus nation.”
The winner of 39 Grand Slam titles added: “I would like us collectively, I at all times need the women and men collectively. I believe we will improve it and make extra of a concentrate on us. I believe folks prefer it after we are all comfortable collectively.”
King accepts there are “a thousand questions” which would wish resolving earlier than the 2 tournaments can turn out to be one. Event director Conchita Martinez mentioned she would even be in favour, as long as ladies get equal time on the present courts and the identical entry to the observe courts.
Each the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup are already marketed as ‘the World Cup of tennis,’ with eight groups competing within the knockout stage of the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in late November.
Nonetheless, not one of the world’s high 4 gamers will probably be competing in Seville. Aryna Sabalenka will probably be absent as a result of Belarus have been banned from workforce competitors for the reason that invasion of Ukraine, and Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will probably be lacking due to an unforgiving schedule.
The WTA Finals happen within the Mexican resort of Cancun the week earlier than the Billie Jean King Cup Finals are staged seven time zones away in Spain.
The WTA solely selected the venue in September, months after Seville was chosen to host the finals of the workforce competitors.
“We have had our date for a very long time – I believe you must ask the WTA,” King replied when requested how she felt about the truth that a few of the stars will probably be lacking.
“They’re the one which put their date in a number of weeks earlier than they performed. I believe all of us have to get collectively and determine a greater calendar for the gamers as a result of you’ll be able to’t begin making these selections on the Finals in September.”
Those that do compete on the Billie Jean King Cup Finals will probably be within the eleventh month of their season.
The 12 months is a gruelling one, and the artwork of selecting a wise schedule a lot underestimated.
However solely two weeks are put aside for the Billie Jean King Cup, and Martinez – the 1994 Wimbledon champion – needs gamers to understand the advantages of workforce competitors.
“This competitors brings different values,” she mentioned.
“You play as a workforce serving to one another, you create this bond and you do not have that on tour. To have the ability to expertise that, and depart the ego on the aspect, I believe that is essentially the most superb feeling which you can have, so I believe we have to additionally inform these children that it is nice to play to your nation.”
