Billie Jean King talks about the history of the Federation Cup
Billie Jean King tells us the history of the Federation Cup, and explains why it’s the women’s world cup of tennis.
Czech women’s tennis is having a moment, as evidenced by their 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Finals performance.
The nation captured a spot in the semifinals on Tuesday, Sept. 22, after Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova and Marie Bouzkova reigned victorious in their singles matches to defeat Great Britain, 2-0, in Shenzhen, China. Czechia will face either Spain or Kazakhstan in the semifinal on either Friday or Saturday. The final is on Sunday.
Czechia has the most players (10) in the top 100 after the U.S. (16) following a dominant summer. Look no further than the all-Czech Wimbledon final between Noskova and Karolina Muchova, producing the third Czech champion in four years. Or the US Open, where Muchova won the mixed doubles title, Katerina Siniakova won the women’s doubles title and Noskova reached the singles quarterfinals.
“To be representing Czech, I think it’s a good pressure,” Muchova said ahead of the tournament. “I would say it’s a privilege and it’s definitely different than most of the year we play just for ourselves. It’s an individual sport and to have this chance to play together, it’s just nice change up and then different kind of pressure, but a nice one.”
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Bouzkova got the competition started for the Czech women with a 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4 win over Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal, a match that was one minute shy of three hours to get Czechia its first point.
“It was an incredible match. My team here, we gave it our all. I think it was team effort and I was here, the one running on the court, but they were here with me and I felt that,” Bouzkova said after the match. “Just super happy to get the first point. It’s really important and just gave my heart in it and so proud.”
Noskova followed her countrywoman with a 6-2, 7-6 (3) win over Great Britain’s Katie Boulter. Noskova finished with 15 aces in the straight-set win, including one on her match point to secure Czechia’s win.
“Winning the Billie Jean King Cup is definitely on my dream board or something that I would definitely want to achieve in the future,” Noskova said. “So just to have the chance to do that this week. It’s incredible.”
Muchova was set to team up with Siniakova, the top-ranked women’s double player in the world, for a winner-take-all doubles match, but the tiebreaker wasn’t needed.
Czechia last won the Billie Jean King Cup in 2018, a 3-0 win over USA back when the tournament was called the Fed Cup. Czechia has won the second most title (11) behind the Americans (18), who didn’t qualify for the finals this year. Czechia will learn its opponent on Wednesday, when Spain and Kazakhstan face off in another quarterfinal.
Spain is led by Cristina Bucsa, the nation’s top-ranked woman at No. 35 in the world. Kazakhstan will be without World No. 1 Elena Rybakina, who withdrew from the competition last week due to an Achilles tendon injury she battled during her U.S. Open title run.
Billie Jean King Cup Finals schedule
All matches will be held at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena in Shenzhen, China.
Quarterfinals
- Tuesday, Sept. 22: Czechia 2, Great Britain 0
- Czechia’s Marie Bouzkova def. Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal, 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4
- Czechia’s Linda Noskova def. Great Britain’s Katie Boulter, 6-2, 7-6 (3)
- Wednesday, Sept. 23
- Spain vs Kazakhstan | 5 a.m. ET
- Ukraine vs Belgium | 10 p.m. ET
- Thursday, Sept. 24: China vs Italy | 5 a.m. ET
Semifinals
- Friday, Sept. 25: Czechia vs Spain/Kazakhstan | 5 a.m. ET
- Saturday, Sept. 26: Winner of Match B vs Winner of Match C | 5 a.m. ET
Championship
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Winners of the semifinals | 5 a.m. ET
How to watch Billie Jean King Cup
The 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be available to stream on billiejeankingcup.com and the Tennis Channel app.
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