Billie Jean King wants combined tennis World Cup, shirt numbers

American tennis legend Billie Jean King is advocating for a merged women and men’s World Cup in tennis, along with the inclusion of shirt numbers for players, as part of her efforts to propel the sport forward.

King, a 39-time Grand Slam winner and 12-time singles champion, expressed her desire to unite the women’s Billy Jean King Cup and the men’s Davis Cup into one global tournament.

The finals of the competition, previously known as the Federation Cup, now named after King, are set to take place in Seville from November 7-12. Meanwhile, the Davis Cup finals will be held in Malaga between November 21-26. Both events are currently referred to as the ‘World Cup’ of tennis.

“I want us to be together, to have the men and women participating in tournaments as a unified entity,” King stated during a media briefing ahead of the BJK Cup finals.

“People enjoy seeing us united and happy.”

King emphasized the increasing significance of the World Cup in various sports, particularly football, making it essential for tennis to establish its own distinct and recognizable tournament.

“Given the worldwide recognition of the football World Cup, it has become even more crucial for tennis to have its own equivalent,” she continued.

“When I mention that we are the World Cup of women’s tennis, people immediately understand. They grasp the concept of countries competing against each other, the excitement it generates, and how it can take place anywhere in the world.

“I attended the World Cup in Australia and observed 75,000 spectators cheering for the women’s matches. It was incredibly thrilling, and the possibilities are limitless.”

The BJK Cup will see the absence of several star players, including the top four ranked individuals. Poland’s Iga Swiatek, along with American players Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, will be unable to participate due to their crowded schedules.

Aryna Sabalenka, the current world number one, is not competing because her country Belarus was suspended from participation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

– Schedule Conundrum –

Swiatek, Gauff, and Pegula will be competing at the WTA Finals in Mexico the week prior. The venue for the WTA Finals was selected by the women’s tennis organizing body in September, despite being aware that the BJK Cup would occur in Seville.

“We have had our date planned for quite some time, so I think you should direct that question to the WTA,” King remarked.

“Regarding our sport, I believe it is crucial for us to come together and devise a better calendar for the players.

“I genuinely care about the sport and the World Cup. I would like for us to sit down and find a solution that benefits everyone.”

King, who is 79 years old, stressed the importance of prioritizing the fans in tennis. One way to achieve this, she proposed, is by implementing player shirt numbers that facilitate easier identification on the court.

“We need to consider the public and our fans. How can we make it easier for them? For instance, at Wimbledon, where players are required to wear all white, it becomes difficult to distinguish between them,” she elaborated.

“I find it absurd. Players don’t have their names displayed on the back of their shirts, so I suggest we introduce shirt numbers. Why shirt numbers? Because children love numbers.

“This is about our audience. It’s not about us; we play to bring joy to our audience.

“Unfortunately, many players believe the audience comes to watch them play. As entertainers, performers, and professional athletes, when we step onto the court, the audience becomes everything.”

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