Confirmed! The final of the BJK Cup will be at the O2 Arena. Prague meets world champions, Kaderka rejoices
UPDATED – This year’s Billie Jean King Cup final will be played in Prague! The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has officially announced the organization of the tournament in its press release. According to information, the winning tournament of the 12 best women’s teams will take place from 1 to 6 November at the O2 Arena.
The finals were originally scheduled to take place in April 2020 in Budapest, Hungary, but the tournament was postponed due to the covidu-19 pandemic. And Budapest has not survived this year due to the pandemic situation and the concerns of the Hungarian authorities.
The ITF was looking for a replacement for the Hungarian capital, which it eventually found in Prague. This was also helped by financial support from the state, when the government undertook to release 65 million crowns in the event of the organization being allocated.
And this guarantee also brought the last trump card to Ivo Kaderka, the president of the Czech Tennis Association, who worked hard on organizing the Billie Jean King Cup with ITF President David Haggerty. And he was successful.
“I am very happy that the Czech Tennis Association was able to install a solution for ITF President David Haggerty in the search for a new organizer of this year’s final,” Kaderka told the ITF official website.
“Together with the ITF, I believe that the Czech Tennis Association and our partners will organize a spectacular event. I would like to thank the government of the Czech Republic for supporting the entire Czech sport, including tennis and organizing the final of the Billie Jean King Cup in Prague, “he added.
We will meet world champions in Prague, says Kaderka
In recent years, the Czech Republic has been one of the biggest aces in the women’s team competition (formerly called the Fed Cup). The Czech team rejoiced at the first place in the years 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018, which gives the selection of Petr Pála a great chance even for the November premiere year of the biggest tournament. The home environment can always whip up Czechs.
Given that this will be the first year of the Davis Cup, Kaderka did not hesitate at the press conference on the occasion of the organizers’ announcement to compare the highest tournament to the world championship.
“Prague will host the World Women’s Tennis Championships. This will be the first such event after coronavirus. We will host twelve teams of the best teams on the planet, from which the world champion will emerge, “he said at a press conference. “The whole sports world will be looking at Prague, including television stations from all over the world.”
Negotiations on the organization began in June. At that time, he asked the opinion of Roland Garros winner Barbora Krejčíková, and his answer convinced her to start negotiations. “She wrote me ‘I want’ and five exclamation marks. I was excited about the event and I wanted to do everything in my power to do so, “he said.
However, securing the organization will not be easy, and despite the guarantee from the government and the first logistical steps, a lot of work awaits ČTS. “Usually everyone has several months to prepare, we only have eight weeks to prepare. But we are ready, “he said, adding that he had fulfilled one of his dreams by organizing this event.
Advance ticket sales of Kaderka should start in September. “I do not know what the measures will be and whether they can be filled to full capacity,” he said. “It will be played on the courts at the O2 Arena and the O2 Universe.”
According to Kaderka, the ability of ČTS to ensure the organization of the BJK Cup finals saved this year as well. “No one can imagine that a similar event will take place this year. The event was about to fail and for a long time it seemed that it would not take place this year. The support of the Government of the Czech Republic decided that the event would take place in Prague, “the conclusion recalled again the large share of the state in securing the event.
Composition of groups
Group A: France, Russia, Canada
Group B: Australia, Belarus, Belgium
Group C: USA, Spain, Slovakia
Group D: Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland