Pune (Maharashtra), India, April 7 (ANI): The scene is now prepared for the Billie Jean King Cup In 2025, the Asia-Oceania Group-1 event organized jointly by AITA and PMDTA will take place in India. The tournament is scheduled to begin on April 8 at the Mhalunge Balewadi tennis facility in Pune.

India will compete against New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Thailand, and Hong Kong, China, in a round-robin group. The leading two teams from this group will proceed to the playoff phase of the tournament.

"Everybody is eagerly anticipating the tournament, and I believe we are ready. The squad has also been getting along really well, and we can hardly wait to begin. To the newer players, I'd simply say: you're representing your nation. Do your absolute best; many people only dream of being where you are now. Just put forth your maximum effort and savor each moment on the field. Try not to stress over the outcome," he stated. Ankita Raina , the highest-ranking Indian singles tennis player, as per Billie Jean King Cup press release.

India's No 1 Ankita Raina They will head their advance alongside Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Vaidehi Chaudhari, and seasoned doubles player Prarthana Thombare. Maaya Rajeshwaran The 15-year-old prodigy will join the squad as the backup player. Vishal Uppal is set to lead the team as the captain, with Radhika Kanitkar Tulpule taking up the role of head coach.

I believe our greatest strength has been understanding everyone’s role within the team and working together as intended. The senior members, with their extensive experience from previous tours, offer valuable guidance on timing and strategy. This helps us immensely. Looking ahead, we’re excited about facing tough competitors, and I feel confident in our solid lineup,” stated Shrivalli Bhamidipaty.

Aside from the Suhana India crew, everyone's attention would be focused on Lulu Sun In New Zealand, the highest-ranked singles player throughout the entire tournament. With a world ranking of No. 45 in singles, Lulu Sun Has secured seven singles titles and four doubles championships on the ITF Circuit. In 2024, she made history as the first female from her nation to advance to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Another prominent athlete is a distinguished doubles competitor. Wu Fang-Hsien of Chinese Taipei.

Currently ranked World No. 30 in doubles, she is experiencing peak performance after consecutively winning double titles at both the Auckland Open and Hobart International earlier this year. Additionally, she advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 Qatar Open and achieved a notable spot in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 Miami Open during 2025.

India aims for a playoff spot for the second consecutive time in the tournament’s history, having just missed out during the previous edition. Their most successful stint was in 2020 when Sania Mirza—who had departed from the squad in 2016—returned impressively and contributed significantly to securing playoff eligibility for India. The country concluded the Asia-Oceania Pool phase as runners-up with an impressive record of four victories in five games; however, they were defeated by Latvia 3-1 in their first-ever playoff game.

India will begin the tournament on Centre Court when they take on New Zealand on the first day. Meanwhile, in Court 1, South Korea faces Chinese Taipei, and in Court 2, Thailand competes against Hong Kong, China.

The Billie Jean King Cup The year 2025 will kick off with an impressive inauguration ceremony starting at 2:00 PM, featuring mesmerizing shows and notable celebrity guests. The official start of the competition will involve former Fed Cup players along with distinguished representatives from both MSLTA and PDMTA who will attend this prestigious event.

"Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis The association is pleased to have the chance to host the Billie Jean King Cup "Games for Asia-Oceania Group 1 will be held in Pune," said Sunder Iyer, Tournament Director and Secretary of the MSLTA.

"Pune is set to create history by hosting the BKJC for the first time in a hundred years of tennis history in the city. At AITA, we have applied for the BKJ Cup with the aim of allowing our female players to compete at home rather than traveling overseas. The favorable climate, familiar cuisine, and local fan support should offer them a significant edge, and they must capitalize on this opportunity," he remarked.

At MSLTA, we've spared no effort for this championship. Everything is set for the participants to experience an outstanding tournament and for spectators to witness phenomenal tennis matches," he continued. "Tennis players from the city, state, and nation can join without any entrance fee, and we look forward to seeing top talent thrilling everyone present.

The competition is organized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) along with the Maharashtra Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare. Additional supporters for this event include Bisleri, Shiv-Naresh, Manipal Hospitals, Eco Factory Foundation, and Dunlop.

Indian squad for Billie Jean King Cup :

Players - Ankita Raina Prarthana Thombare, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Vaidehi Chaudhari, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi (Reserve)

Captain - Vishal Uppal

Coach - Radhika Kanitkar Tulpule

Physiotherapists - Rutuja Kulkarni and Apurva Kulkarni. (ANI)