Tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King along with ITF President David Haggerty and Ilana Kloss of ... [+]
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Thursday signed a partnership agreement with the Sports, Media, and Entertainment arm of TWG Global, to create a new business model for the Billie Jean King Cup.
The Billie Jean King Cup is the premier international team competition in women's tennis and the world's largest annual women's international team sports competition in terms of the number of nations that compete.
The Czech Republic dominated the competition in the 2010s, winning six of ten competitions in the decade. The men's equivalent of the Billie Jean King Cup is the Davis Cup.
(L-R) Switzerland's Simona Waltert, Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic, Switzerland's captain Heinz ... [+]
TWG Global, a holding company led by businessman and philanthropist Mark Walter, will invest a “substantial” sum in the endeavor, the ITF said in a statement. It will also provide expertise and infrastructure for the marketing and promotion of the Billie Jean King Cup, led by Ilana Kloss, of Billie Jean King Enterprises (BJKE
ITF will hold a 51% majority share of the new entity.
Tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King, who is also an advocate for equity in sports and wages, said the goals of TWG Global, Billie Jean King Enterprises and the ITF are completely aligned.
“We want the Billie Jean King Cup to have a positive, lasting sporting and social impact on all 211 ITF Federations,” Billie Jean King said in a statement. “This competition has always been a powerful platform for the global growth of women's tennis and with this news we are committed to having a bold, historic and lasting impact for generations to come.
“We are thankful to Mark Walter and TWG Global for their investment… and we will work together to build on this event's incredible 60-year history to achieve an even greater future for women and women's sports."
Magda Linette (POL) during the Billie Jean King Cup in Radom, Poland, on April 15, 2022. (Photo by ... [+]
The ITF statement said that Billie Jean King Cup Limited will work to source new sponsorships, broadcast, and commercial partnerships.
The new business venture will leverage the premier women’s tennis team competition as a platform for women’s professional development programs in leadership, officiating and coaching.
TWG Global’s leader, Walter, is the controlling owner of Major League Baseball team LA Dodgers and an owner of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, as well as a co-general partner of the Chelsea Football Club.
“TWG Global is thrilled to work with BJKE and ITF to make tennis a more balanced game for the women who compete and to encourage more great female athletes to follow in the footsteps of Billie Jean to push the sport of tennis forward,” Walter said.
ITF President David Haggerty said: “It is thrilling and fitting in its 60th year to announce a unique partnership for the Billie Jean King Cup formed by people who have worked in sports and tennis all their lives.
“This joint venture will be overseen and operated by leaders who bring vast knowledge, experience, and shared passion for the global development of our sport and who hold a remarkable track record in growing women’s tennis.”
Haggerty added that the new venture will benefit nations in their development of tennis as well as current players and the generations to follow.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - APRIL 15: (from left) Heidi El Tabakh, captain of Team Canada, ... [+]
A record 134 nations have entered the Billie Jean King Cup competition in 2023 from Regionals to the home and away ties of the earlier stages up to the Qualifiers and Play-Offs.
Seville will host the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, featuring 12 nations, which will take place from November 7-12. It is the first time since 2008 that Spain has hosted the finals of the competition, known until 2020 as the Fed Cup.
Switzerland won the title last season, while Australia finished runners-up.