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the addict · Tennis legend

Week 38 - 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, Sjenzhen, China

the addict · Tennis legend

From 9vicman in July

BJKC Finals draw:
(1) ITA v CHN
(4) ESP v UKR
(3) USA v KAZ
(2) GBR v JPN

GB have announced an initial shortlist of four players for the finals: Boulter, Kartal, Raducanu, Burrage. A fifth player can be added, and up to four players can be changed.

Just been announced that Emma has withdrawn.

indiana · Tennis legend

In the BJK Cup play-offs thread, I was critical of what I called Emma's "pretty poor and unprofessional" latish and quite probably unnecessary withdrawal ( reported to be to try and ensure an Aus Open seeding ).

Tbf though, TA's post is a reminder how flexible the initial squad was. And I don't know, maybe one or two players were already on standby.

Still rather less than happy about it, though yes effected by the fact that I would have liked to have seen Emma at the finals

9vicman · Futures qualifying

For every Alex De Minaur there's an Emma Raducanu. Some players are proud to compete for their country, others do when it suits them. There's no right or wrong, but for me, I'd love to see Emma represent her country with success in the same way that Andy Murray and others have done.

Brendan F · Intermediate Club Player

the addict wrote:
From 9vicman in July

BJKC Finals draw:
(1) ITA v CHN
(4) ESP v UKR
(3) USA v KAZ
(2) GBR v JPN

GB have announced an initial shortlist of four players for the finals: Boulter, Kartal, Raducanu, Burrage. A fifth player can be added, and up to four players can be changed.

Just been announced that Emma has withdrawn.

Emma replaced by Fran

indiana · Tennis legend

Not sure having a WTA 500 in the same week as the BJK Cup Finals, with the chance of players taking that option ( even being enticed? ) is that brilliant for the premier women's team competition.

Interesting, by the way, how many 'big' nations didn't reach the finals. Not sure how much that was down to unavailable players or surprise results in the play-offs.

Yes, only 8 nations in the finals so many players no chance of being involved in Shenzhen ( well, not now that their nation is out ). Well they could just have been given a week off.

Be interesting to see if other potential BJK Cup players play Seoul instead.

The BJK Cup does seem maybe rather degraded.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 5th of September 2025 08:44:01 PM

Barefoot · Intermediate Club Player

I cant get funny about people not playing the team comps, lots dont, but withdrawing a week out is not good form.

Sheddie · administrator

The BJK Cup (and in its previous incarnation as the Fed Cup) has struggled with the issue of too many top players not being fussed about it, as long as I've been following tennis.

Remember reading a Sam Smith column in Ace Tennis Magazine way back in 2001 complaining about how all the top male players back then showed up for Davis Cup, the same didn't happen with the women's game - I don't think Hingis, the Williams sisters and the other big name stars back then, were that bothered about it.

They've never really managed to find a solution

dodrade · Futures qualifying

9vicman wrote:
For every Alex De Minaur there's an Emma Raducanu. Some players are proud to compete for their country, others do when it suits them. There's no right or wrong, but for me, I'd love to see Emma represent her country with success in the same way that Andy Murray and others have done.

Pretty disappointed with Emma but Andy skipped his fair share of Davis Cup ties as well IIRC.

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Probably forgotten now but Jo Konta pulled out of the 2016 Fed Cup a week before the event just after reaching the Australian Open semi final. Reportedly Judy Murray was none too pleased. However a debut was given to Katie Swan who was our youngest ever player in the cup.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

OK, here goes:

Emma dropped Andy, stymieing his swansong Wimbledon appearance, because it might possibly hinder her singles

She didn't go up to Scotland to support the team, when she had to drop out for injury reasons, because she had a photo shoot in Harrods

.....

And this is not a criticism

When you get to a sufficiently high level, tennis is an individual sport - and Emma is at that level

There are no WTA points for the Billie Jean King Cup

It comes round every year so it barely matters if you miss one (or five)

If you happen to love the team atmosphere and it's the highlight of your year, then great, but there's no reason it has to be

And, just me, but I don't particularly like or respect Anne Keothavong, and so the only reason I (if Emma

) would really put myself out for the event vanishes (I think Leon Smith showed the importance of this element - Andy effectively refusing to play for John Lloyd still makes me giggle)

So, Emma is true to form, and I don't have a problem with it

Blue_Belle · County player

It's still tied to the Olympics, right? I'll bet she'll play to become eligible.

Var · Futures qualifying

Blue_Belle wrote:
It's still tied to the Olympics, right? I'll bet she'll play to become eligible.

Spot on Blue Belle! She will be all over it like a rash then.

Shhh · Challenger level

Coup Droit wrote:
OK, here goes:

Emma dropped Andy, stymieing his swansong Wimbledon appearance, because it might possibly hinder her singles

She didn't go up to Scotland to support the team, when she had to drop out for injury reasons, because she had a photo shoot in Harrods

.....

And this is not a criticism

When you get to a sufficiently high level, tennis is an individual sport - and Emma is at that level

There are no WTA points for the Billie Jean King Cup

It comes round every year so it barely matters if you miss one (or five)

If you happen to love the team atmosphere and it's the highlight of your year, then great, but there's no reason it has to be

And, just me, but I don't particularly like or respect Anne Keothavong, and so the only reason I (if Emma ) would really put myself out for the event vanishes (I think Leon Smith showed the importance of this element - Andy effectively refusing to play for John Lloyd still makes me giggle)

So, Emma is true to form, and I don't have a problem with it

I agree with most of this and would add that Emma has only just started working with a new coach and I understand at this moment in time she wants to devote herself to that path. Also without Korea, she'd be going straight into back to back WTA1000 events....not ideal. I know the powers that be moved this round forward but, I still dont think they picked the right week.

Emma could have given more notice mind wink

-- Edited by Shhh on Saturday 6th of September 2025 09:09:06 AM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I dont have an issue with players not playing in Fed Cup or Davis Cup. Its always been the case that players have committed some years and not in others. Its the short notice I think is poor form - discourteous and disrespectful I think.

Clearly Emma is taking guidance from her coach I would say, he clearly doesnt want to have her go for a week where he wont be involved. That seems like a positive thing, in terms of their professional working relationship. I just think she could have let them know sooner.

A friend of mine is a freelance consultant - he had a project lined up at an agreed day rate. Something else came along that he preferred - not better money, just more interesting work - and he bailed from the other project on the Friday when he was due to start Monday. Within his rights, but left client in a mess and left a nasty taste.