Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Great Britain to face Germany

Great Britain have been drawn against Germany in the first round of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in November.

If they win that tie, Anne Keothavong’s team will face top seeds Canada in the quarter finals.

“Germany are an experienced team with players we’re all familiar with,” said Keothavong.

“No matches will be straightforward but we’re excited as a team to be involved in the finals and we’ll give it our all as always.”

The BJK Cup Finals, which will again take place in Seville, has switched to a straight knockout format this year.

Britain were one of eight unseeded teams in Tuesday’s draw pitted against each other for a place in the quarter-finals.

Four seeded teams – defending champions Canada, 2023 runners-up Italy, the Czech Republic and Australia – were given byes into the last eight.

The 12-team finals take place from 12-20 November.

The event was previously played over six days, with the 12 teams split into four groups and the winners contesting the semi-finals.

Keothavong’s side earned their spot in this year’s finals by beating France in a play-off tie last month – the first time they had reached the finals through qualification.

World number 28 Katie Boulter and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu led the British team to victory by winning three of their four singles matches.

Germany went through by beating Brazil after Laura Siegemund, Tatjana Maria and Anna-Lena Friedsam – none of whom are ranked in the world’s top 60 – won their singles matches.

Britain featured in the Glasgow finals of 2022, reaching the semi-finals, but were given a spot as the host nation after losing in that year’s play-offs.

Full first-round draw:

Germany v Great Britain

Slovakia v United States

Spain v Poland

Japan v Romania

Quarter-final draw:

Canada v Germany/Great Britain

Australia v Slovakia/United States

Czech Republic v Spain/Poland

Italy v Japan/Romania