Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers: Italy Set to Face Japan

Reigning champion Italy will face a home tie against Japan in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in April as it begins its ​quest for a hat trick of ‍titles ⁠in the women's team competition. Fourteen ‍nations will contest the qualifiers with seven going on to join hosts China in the Finals in September. Last year's ‍runner-up the United States travels to Belgium while 11-time champion Czech ‌Republic is up against 2022 champion Switzerland. In the other ​ties, Britain ‌faces Australia, Kazakhstan hosts ‌Canada, Spain takes on Slovenia ​and ‌Poland faces Ukraine. The qualifiers, on April 10-11, have a knockout format with home and away ties replacing the single-location group stages used last year. It will also mean that there will be guaranteed "live" ‍doubles ‍rubbers. Each tie will consist of two singles matches on day one, ‍followed by a doubles rubber on day two and then two reverse singles. While the seven winning ‌nations will move to the Finals, the losers will compete in the playoffs in November.