Canada draws Romania, Japan in qualifying group for Billie Jean King Cup
Squad lost to Britain in last year's quarterfinals after winning in 2023
Canada will face Romania and Japan in its qualifying group for the Billie Jean King Cup international women's tennis tournament in April.
The qualifying draw was held Thursday in London. Top-ranked Canada and its opponents were drawn into Group A, with Japan as host.
Qualifying will begin on April 7. The winners of the six three-country groups will compete in the final against host nation China and 2024 champion Italy.
Canada lost to Britain in last year's quarterfinals after winning the event for the first time in 2023.
Romania is 3-0 against Canada in international women's tennis. Its most recent win came in a World Group II playoff in 2018 when the event was known as the Federation Cup.
Canada is 1-3 against Japan, though the sides haven't faced each other since the event switched to a world group format from a regional qualifying format in 1995.
Qualifying groups are being used this year as the tournament switches from a 12-team to an eight-team final. Traditional home-or-away ties will return in the qualifiers and playoffs in 2026.
Tennis Canada says the qualifying roster and complete schedule will be confirmed later.
WATCH | Canada eliminated from 2024 Billie Jean Cup:
China to host BJK Cup Finals
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will move from Spain to China for the next three years.
Shenzhen will host the women's teams tournament from 2025-27, organizers said Thursday.
The last two finals were in Seville in 2023 when Canada won, and Malaga in 2024 when Italy won.
There were no dates for the finals yet.
Organizers said China offers "an excellent setting" thanks to its "state-of-the-art facilities, ever-growing tennis culture, and growing demand for women's sports."
In 2021, the WTA Finals were moved from Shenzhen to the Mexican city of Guadalajara amid the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns over the safety of retired Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai, who accused a Chinese government official of rape.
With files from The Associated Press
