"A dream come true": Team Italy celebrates first Billie Jean King Cup title in 11 years

Billie Jean King Cup is a Tennis Traveler's dream—we’re heading to six countries next week for BJK Cup Qualifiers alone.

Add the ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo event in Monaco and the ATP Challenger 125 in Mexico City, Mexico, and we’ve got ourselves around-the-clock tennis action to keep our hearts warm, tans golden, and suitcases packed.

Read More: Expect more than tennis from Stefanos Tsitsipas & Novak Djokovic at this year’s Monte Carlo Masters 1000

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There are six BJK Cup Qualifier host sites:

  • GROUP A: Tokyo, Japan
    • Teams: Canada, Romania, Japan
    • Surface: Indoor hard
  • GROUP B: Ostrava, Czechia
    • Teams: Czechia, Spain, Brazil
    • Surface: Indoor hard
  • GROUP C: Bratislava, Slovakia
    • Teams: Slovakia, United States, Denmark
    • Surface: Indoor hard
  • GROUP D: Brisbane, Australia
    • Teams: Australia, Kazakhstan, Colombia
    • Surface: Outdoor hard
  • GROUP E: Radom, Poland
    • Teams: Poland, Switzerland, Ukraine
    • Surface: Indoor clay
  • GROUP F: The Hague, Netherlands
    • Teams: Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands
    • Surface: Indoor clay

Teams Italy and China as the defending champions and finalists from 2024, are automatically qualified for the finals which will be hosted in Shenzhen, China.

You already know there’ll be a tennis traveler itinerary ahead of that adventure, but for now we’ve got our hands full with six major travel destinations.

Now is the best time of year to see Tokyo's cherry blossom trees in full bloom.

Now is the best time of year to see Tokyo's cherry blossom trees in full bloom. 

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Tennis is heading to Japan at the tail end of the cherry blossom season, with eight dedicated festivals happening during BJK Cup competition days alone. There are also parks blooming with wisteria, tulips, and Hibiya, all of which have ongoing celebrations since the beginning of March.

Ostrava, Czechia, and Bratislava, Slovakia, two destinations surrounded by various hiking trails and city viewpoints, are rich with historic museums and recommend castle tours in the Silesian Ostrava Castle and the Bratislava Castle, which houses the Slovak National Museum.

From Thursday, April 10, to Sunday, April 13, Bratislava is also hosting several concerts as well as celebrating National Record Store Day on Saturday the 12th.

Since you’re already in the region, we recommend hopping a short flight to Valcea, România, to visit the Oncele Mari Salt Mine tennis courts, one of eight bucket list tennis courts around the globe.

We travel to and fro Australia each year for Summer Down Under to kick off the tennis calendar, and now three teams head back down for BJK Cup.

Read More: Spot your favorite players in Melbourne

On the third day of the Cup, Brisbane is closing 120 kilometers of roads for the Tour de Brisbane, raising funds for lung transplant research and hosting challenges for racers of all levels.

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While tennis fans are well-accustomed to seeing Brisbane on the tennis calendar, Radom, Poland, is less familiar—all the more reason to explore when tennis is in town!

Situated in the center of the country, Radom has made significant contributions to Polish history. A three-day BJK Cup stay is more than enough time to experience the rich culture, explore historical landmarks, and spend an evening at the esteemed Teatr Powszechny im. Jana Kochanowskiego, Radom Theatre.

Read More: Iga Swiatek & Emma Raducanu pull out of BJK Cup Qualifiers

For tennis fans lucky enough to be in the Netherlands during BJK Cup qualifiers, The Hague event calendar is booming with experiences. There are too many exhibitions to count, but one that caught this tennis traveler’s eye is the Grand Dessert: The history of dessert, just a 15-minute drive from the Cup site and in the direction of the beach.

Explore the blooming city of The Hague while in town for the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers.

Explore the blooming city of The Hague while in town for the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers. 

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About the same distance away is Atrium City Hall, where a free photo exhibition called Soup Stories is taking place until May 7.

There are also a number of markets starting up in April, including the Neighborhood market Stevinstraat in Belgisch Park—the closest destination to the dreamy beach escape.

First and foremost, we’re traveling across three continents for the tennis. But since we’re here… and Tennis Channel is covering every match internationally… we might as well make time to explore!