Summary:
- Great Britain will start their 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals campaign in Shenzhen on Thursday against Japan.
- Emma Raducanu is absent, leaving Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Jodie Burrage, and Francesca Jones to lead the team.
- Britain, four-time finalists, are aiming to go one step further after last year’s semifinal run.
The Billie Jean King Cup (former Federation Cup/Fed Cup) Finals get underway in Shenzhen this week, with Great Britain opening their campaign in Thursday’s quarter-final against Japan. Eight nations are in the hunt for one of the sport’s most coveted team prizes, and Anne Keothavong’s side will be eager to better last year’s semifinal appearance.
Italy, the defending champions, kick off proceedings on Tuesday against host nation China, while Britain’s clash with Japan will be one of the standout ties of the opening round.
Despite four previous runs to the final, Great Britain has never lifted the trophy, and they arrive in China without Emma Raducanu, who returned from injury last year to play has had to withdraw this time. That leaves a mixture of experienced hands and rising talent to carry the flag.
Meet the Team
Katie Boulter is one of the most seasoned players in the squad. The 29-year-old is currently ranked 50th, and she has her powerful forehand to thank for that.
The player, who proved to be critical for the team’s qualifier in April next to Jodie Burrage, will experience her seventh BJK Cup campaign.
Her 2025 season, however, has been a mix of highs and lows that included a foot injury that considerably slowed her start, a first clay-court title at a WTA 125 in Paris, an early exit at Queen’s, and the loss of her British number one status to Raducanu, dented momentum, despite scoring a notable win over Paula Badosa at Wimbledon.
Boulter admits her “moment might not come”, but history suggests the BJK Cup often brings out her sharpest tennis.
Next in line is Sonay Kartal, a 23-year-old who achieved an incredibly fast climb, securing her a spot in the 48th position. Her strong Roland Garros and Wimbledon showings took her to the fourth round this summer, but she also made quite an impression on her BJK Cup debut, winning both singles matches in qualifiers.
Despite a first-round US Open loss, she still holds on to an unbeaten Cup record.
Grand Slam winner Jodie Burrage also debuted in Paris and Wimbledon, as Kartal’s double is another fighter. The 26-year-old’s aggressive, front-footed style could turn out to be decisive in tight matches, despite a series of injuries, including a bad wrist problem.
Wildcard Francesca Jones will replace the absent Emma Raducanu. The 24-year-old has had an excellent year so far, cracking the top 100 after winning WTA 125 titles in Contrexeville and Palermo.
While her US Open debut came to an abrupt end during the first round, she’s a mentally strong player looking to mark her 25th birthday week with a breakthrough on the world stage.