Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1524501
40 Major Events Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge, the women's World Cup of Tennis, had a successful year in 2023, se ng new records and crowning new world champions as ecsta c Canada li ed the trophy for the first me. For the third successive year, a record number of na ons took part – 132 competed in 2023, 14 more than in 2022. The Billie Jean King Cup con nues to expand its reach and is a pla orm for the growth of women's tennis around the world. Andalucia agreement The 2023 Billie Jean King Cup was the third edi on of the compe on since its rebrand and the launch of the Finals format which features the elite 12 na ons. The Billie Jean King Cup Finals were held in Seville, Spain as part of a wider partnership with the region of Andalucia. This agreement also saw the Davis Cup Final 8 staged in Malaga and the Finals of the Billie Jean King Cup Juniors by Gainbridge and Davis Cup Juniors hosted in Cordoba (see page 31). The agreement was renewed for 2024, and the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals will return to Andalucia in November. Seville's Estadio La Cartuja, which normally hosts Spain's na onal football team, was transformed into a tennis village with two indoor match courts and three prac ce courts constructed in tents on the pitch. It was the first me Spain had hosted the finals since 2008, and more than 17,000 fans watched the ac on over six days, a 35% increase on 2022. The main Centre Court was at least 70% full every day. Record player prize money Player par cipa on in the Finals was strong, with 88%, of compe ng na ons' top two players taking part, and there was very posi ve feedback about the player experience in Seville. Our commercial partner Gainbridge, in their first full year of tle sponsorship, backed record total player prize money for the Finals of $9.6 million, and a record $2.4 million was awarded to winners Canada. As part of the ITF's drive for gender parity under our Advantage All programme, prize money on offer at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals was again equivalent to that awarded to the men in the Davis Cup Finals. Home-and-away es In 2023, 17 Billie Jean King Cup es took place on a home-and-away basis, ensuring this important element of the compe on remained. There were nine Qualifier es, with a place in the 2023 Finals at stake, BILLIE JEAN KING CUP BY GAINBRIDGE