British Tennis Forum

the addict · Tennis legend

RE: Week 15 - 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs, The Hague, Netherlands - Indoor Clay

Brendan F · Intermediate Club Player

JonH comes home wrote:
Brendan F wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
9vicman wrote:
The new rankings moved us up to No. 2. The rankings are based on a team's four year performance in BJKC with recent years counting more. A lot of leading nations failed to progress from the Qualifiers to Britain's advantage.
Thanks - a bit of a blow for the host nation, China, to get the top ranked Italians in the opening match. Organisers probably would have wished that had not happened
If they need crowds to turn up it's easier to do it in an authoritarian country, so I don't think the home team's progress or lack thereof matters that much
Mmm. Not sure weve seen that at last Chinese events though, crowds clearly arent pushed into turning up and Im not sure it works that way?!
my concern is once China are out, crowds will be small as it is a long way for non Chinese fans to travel, and probably expensive. I wonder how many British fans will fly out there for GB v Japan and ongoing? Anyone thinking of it, be interested to see?

I said if they need to. I was thinking back to the Beijing Olympics when they'd fill out the stadium with schoolkids. I guess this isn't high profile enough that they have the same urgency but if, as you say, the crowds will be small anyway would the Chinese team still being in make any real difference?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Brendan F wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Brendan F wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
9vicman wrote:
The new rankings moved us up to No. 2. The rankings are based on a team's four year performance in BJKC with recent years counting more. A lot of leading nations failed to progress from the Qualifiers to Britain's advantage.
Thanks - a bit of a blow for the host nation, China, to get the top ranked Italians in the opening match. Organisers probably would have wished that had not happened
If they need crowds to turn up it's easier to do it in an authoritarian country, so I don't think the home team's progress or lack thereof matters that much
Mmm. Not sure weve seen that at last Chinese events though, crowds clearly arent pushed into turning up and Im not sure it works that way?!
my concern is once China are out, crowds will be small as it is a long way for non Chinese fans to travel, and probably expensive. I wonder how many British fans will fly out there for GB v Japan and ongoing? Anyone thinking of it, be interested to see?
I said if they need to. I was thinking back to the Beijing Olympics when they'd fill out the stadium with schoolkids. I guess this isn't high profile enough that they have the same urgency but if, as you say, the crowds will be small anyway would the Chinese team still being in make any real difference?

I think the host nation makes a difference in these things if they are competitive and involved in the latter stages; press attention and excitement is higher. Obviously their own matches will get decent crowds anyway, most likely, but whilst they are in it draws more general attention.

but, as said, dont think the crowds out in China will be that high in general, I agree.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Great draw and absolutely incredible we are now #2 in the rankings. What an achievement (although I know noone really cares haha).

A full strength team in Shenzhen has a good opportunity I think.