New Zealand to head to Turkey for Billie Jean King Cup

After a two-year absence New Zealand will return to the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly the Fed Cup) in April.

The Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie has been set for Antalya in Turkey from the 12^th to the 16^th of April. New Zealand who won promotion to Group 1 after winning the Group 2 tournament in Wellington in February 2020, will face competition from China, Indonesia, India, Japan and South Korea.

The top two nations will be promoted to the World Group qualifiers with the bottom two teams relegated to Asia Oceania Group 2.China and Japan are particularly strong with world number 65 Shuai Zhang and 77^th ranked Qinwen Zhang among four Chinese singles players in the top 100.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka has dropped to 80 in the world after losing the ranking points after failing to defend her Australian Open title but is a formidable force along with 78^th ranked Misaki Doi. Japan also has two of the top ranked doubles players in the world in Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara.

The likes of Erin Routliffe, Paige Hourigan, Kathryn Westbury and Valentina Ivanov are contenders to form the New Zealand team which is captained by Marina Erakovic.

The Billie Jean Cup is after the WTA clay court tournament in Charleston and before the European clay court swing so there’s a high chance most of the top players will make themselves available.