Billie Jean King Cup Finals to be Played in Prague

Team USA will head to Prague in November for the chance to be crowned world champions. The International Tennis Federation announced on Friday that the Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals, formerly Fed Cup, will be played in the Czech capital, indoors at the O2 Arena from Nov. 1-6. 

The Finals were initially scheduled to be held in Budapest, Hungary, in April 2020, but were first postponed for 12 months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This February, they were again postponed to a to-be-announced later date, and moved from Hungary in the interest of health and safety. 

"I was text messaging every single player and doubles players that, We're on. I think all the players and everybody involved is super excited to get back," U.S. Billie Jean King Cup captain Kathy Rinaldi said at the US Open on Friday. "Of course, [it] being named the Billie Jean King Cup, now being able to play that final, is going to be very exciting.

"We all love Prague, it's a beautiful city. We're really thrilled... I should say thrilled, but also grateful, to have them step up and be able to play this in November. I can't be more excited. I know the players, the responses, they're really excited, as well."

Team USA qualified for the Finals back in February 2020, beating Latvia in a qualifying tie in Everett, Wash., 3-2. The U.S. will play in round-robin Group C in Prague, alongside Spain and Slovakia. The lone change in national nomination comes in Group A, where previous hosts Hungary are replaced by Canada. Canada will compete alongside defending champions France and the Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) team. Group B consists of Australia, Belarus, Belgium and Group D features the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland.

The storied competition, which dates back to 1963, was named for the all-time great and transcendent legend last September. 

“It’s an honor to represent this historic competition and I want to thank the ITF and the Czech Republic for doing everything in their power to stage this year’s women’s World Cup of Tennis despite the challenging circumstances," King said in a statement. "I wish each nation and every athlete the best of luck and to give your all in Prague this November as you compete for the chance for your nation to become world champions.”