Shenzhen to stage three Billie Jean King Cup finals between 2025 and 2027 Lutz says deal shows China is once again “a force to be reckoned with” in hosting major tennis events ITF hoping to bring event forward to September, confirmation of scheduling expecting in four to six weeks The chief executive of the Billie Jean King Cup has said that there were “no concerns” from players or commercial partners over the decision to take the finals of the tournament to China for the next three years. Last week, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) announced a deal for the Chinese city of Shenzhen to stage the climax of the women’s national team tournament from 2025 to 2027. It will be the biggest tennis event to be held in China since the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) suspended all tournaments in the country amid fears for the wellbeing of Chinese player Peng Shuai, who disappeared from public view after accusing a former senior government official of sexual assault. After a 16-month standoff, the WTA eventually announced it would return to China in 2023, even though then-chief executive Steve Simon’s calls for a “full, fair and transparent” investigation into Peng’s claims had not been met. Speaking exclusively to SportsPro, Kerstin Lutz, the chief executive of Billie Jean King Cup Limited, the tournament’s commercial entity, said ITF president David Haggerty has spoken to Peng “several times over the years” and was “very much reassured” by the player “that she’s completely fine and safe”. As an international federation, Lutz also pointed out that the ITF follows the guidance of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), whose president Thomas Bach held a private meeting with Peng ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Lutz additionally noted that both players and the tournament’s commercial partners have been supportive of the move. “I think for the players, it’s about the calendar more than the location,” she said. “If we play in November, the player flow isn’t ideal with China. We’re all very aware of that. So the players welcome the move to China if it is in September, because that works very well with their schedule. “But there were no concerns voiced over China as a host. Our incumbent partners have been very supportive of the decision to go to China. Everybody has been very supportive, and the interest from new partners has been very high since we’ve announced [the deal]. I think commercially, China is very interesting to a lot of brands.” The past two editions of the Billie Jean King Cup finals have taken place in Spain, with Seville hosting the tournament in 2023 before Italy triumphed in Malaga last year. The event in Shenzhen, however, will mark the first time that the Billie Jean King Cup finals have ever been held in China. The tournament, previously known as the Fed Cup before rebranding in 2020, was last hosted in Asia in 1989, when Tokyo staged the event. Lutz noted that there were “a couple of offers” to host the finals from 2025 onwards, including from “very strong tennis nations” in Europe. However, she said organisers were interested in taking the Billie Jean King Cup to Asia or the Middle East to “ensure people understand that it is a global property”. “One of the absolute key reasons [for choosing Shenzhen] is the interest in tennis in China generally, but also very much women’s tennis, with some fantastic players now that are absolute superstars in the country and the infrastructure that is available around it,” she continued. “One fifth of the tennis playing population is from China, the second biggest in the world after the US, with 20 million players. “We want to go into a market that’s investing in tennis, that’s growing tennis, so that we can be a part of it. The Billie Jean King Cup is a global property, so we don’t want to stay in Europe for all the different editions. We want to branch out. We want to make sure everybody gets the opportunity to host it.” Lutz also highlighted the financial significance of the hosting agreement, which has seen the CTA partner with private investor Beijing Guoti Intelligent Technology to deliver the finals. Beijing Guoti has been involved in developing table tennis in China through grassroots initiatives, school programmes and competitions, and Lutz said the company’s investment will cover “most of” the hosting fee, sanction fee, prize money and operational costs for the Billie Jean King Cup finals. There are still some details to be confirmed, including which stadium will stage the finals. The tournament will either take place at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center or a newly constructed venue, according to Lutz, who added that the precise location will be determined by where the event falls in the calendar. The Billie Jean King Cup finals are currently held in November, but organisers are exploring the possibility of staging the event in September so that it fits within the women’s tennis calendar, which concludes with the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia. Lutz said a final decision on scheduling is expected in the next four to six weeks. Whenever it takes place, the Billie Jean King Cup will mark a return to the top tier of women’s tennis for Shenzhen, which previously signed a ten-year deal to host the WTA Finals until 2028. That agreement came to a premature end after just one edition as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw China introduce strict lockdown restrictions, impacting the country’s ability to stage major sporting events. However, Lutz believes that the new hosting deal shows China is back open for business. “I absolutely think it will show that, in tennis, they’re a force to be reckoned with in international events and hosting World Cups,” she said. Get access to richer content, exclusive reports, unparalleled business intelligence, and community benefits to help you navigate the next frontier of sport and make more informed decisions with a SportsPro+ Premium membership. Discover more here.

“No concerns” over China's Billie Jean King Cup finals deal, says tournament CEO

Shenzhen to stage three Billie Jean King Cup finals between 2025 and 2027 Lutz says deal shows China is once again “a force to be reckoned with” in hosting major tennis events ITF hoping to bring event forward to September, confirmation of scheduling expecting in four to six weeks “I absolutely think it will show […]

Shenzhen to stage three Billie Jean King Cup finals between 2025 and 2027
Lutz says deal shows China is once again “a force to be reckoned with” in hosting major tennis events
ITF hoping to bring event forward to September, confirmation of scheduling expecting in four to six weeks

“I absolutely think it will show that, in tennis, they’re a force to be reckoned with in international events and hosting World Cups,” she said.
Lutz noted that there were “a couple of offers” to host the finals from 2025 onwards, including from “very strong tennis nations” in Europe. However, she said organisers were interested in taking the Billie Jean King Cup to Asia or the Middle East to “ensure people understand that it is a global property”.
Get access to richer content, exclusive reports, unparalleled business intelligence, and community benefits to help you navigate the next frontier of sport and make more informed decisions with a SportsPro+ Premium membership. Discover more here.
Beijing Guoti has been involved in developing table tennis in China through grassroots initiatives, school programmes and competitions, and Lutz said the company’s investment will cover “most of” the hosting fee, sanction fee, prize money and operational costs for the Billie Jean King Cup finals.
The Billie Jean King Cup finals are currently held in November, but organisers are exploring the possibility of staging the event in September so that it fits within the women’s tennis calendar, which concludes with the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia. Lutz said a final decision on scheduling is expected in the next four to six weeks.
Speaking exclusively to SportsPro, Kerstin Lutz, the chief executive of Billie Jean King Cup Limited, the tournament’s commercial entity, said ITF president David Haggerty has spoken to Peng “several times over the years” and was “very much reassured” by the player “that she’s completely fine and safe”.
As an international federation, Lutz also pointed out that the ITF follows the guidance of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), whose president Thomas Bach held a private meeting with Peng ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
After a 16-month standoff, the WTA eventually announced it would return to China in 2023, even though then-chief executive Steve Simon’s calls for a “full, fair and transparent” investigation into Peng’s claims had not been met.
However, Lutz believes that the new hosting deal shows China is back open for business.

“But there were no concerns voiced over China as a host. Our incumbent partners have been very supportive of the decision to go to China. Everybody has been very supportive, and the interest from new partners has been very high since we’ve announced [the deal]. I think commercially, China is very interesting to a lot of brands.”
“One of the absolute key reasons [for choosing Shenzhen] is the interest in tennis in China generally, but also very much women’s tennis, with some fantastic players now that are absolute superstars in the country and the infrastructure that is available around it,” she continued. “One fifth of the tennis playing population is from China, the second biggest in the world after the US, with 20 million players.
The past two editions of the Billie Jean King Cup finals have taken place in Spain, with Seville hosting the tournament in 2023 before Italy triumphed in Malaga last year.
“We want to go into a market that’s investing in tennis, that’s growing tennis, so that we can be a part of it. The Billie Jean King Cup is a global property, so we don’t want to stay in Europe for all the different editions. We want to branch out. We want to make sure everybody gets the opportunity to host it.”
Whenever it takes place, the Billie Jean King Cup will mark a return to the top tier of women’s tennis for Shenzhen, which previously signed a ten-year deal to host the WTA Finals until 2028.
Lutz also highlighted the financial significance of the hosting agreement, which has seen the CTA partner with private investor Beijing Guoti Intelligent Technology to deliver the finals.
The event in Shenzhen, however, will mark the first time that the Billie Jean King Cup finals have ever been held in China. The tournament, previously known as the Fed Cup before rebranding in 2020, was last hosted in Asia in 1989, when Tokyo staged the event.
The chief executive of the Billie Jean King Cup has said that there were “no concerns” from players or commercial partners over the decision to take the finals of the tournament to China for the next three years.
It will be the biggest tennis event to be held in China since the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) suspended all tournaments in the country amid fears for the wellbeing of Chinese player Peng Shuai, who disappeared from public view after accusing a former senior government official of sexual assault.
Last week, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) announced a deal for the Chinese city of Shenzhen to stage the climax of the women’s national team tournament from 2025 to 2027.
“I think for the players, it’s about the calendar more than the location,” she said. “If we play in November, the player flow isn’t ideal with China. We’re all very aware of that. So the players welcome the move to China if it is in September, because that works very well with their schedule.
There are still some details to be confirmed, including which stadium will stage the finals. The tournament will either take place at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center or a newly constructed venue, according to Lutz, who added that the precise location will be determined by where the event falls in the calendar.
That agreement came to a premature end after just one edition as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw China introduce strict lockdown restrictions, impacting the country’s ability to stage major sporting events.