The 2024 WTA Tour season is over, but some of the biggest stars in the women’s game will be in action one final time this week.
Taking place in Malaga, the Billie Jean King Cup Finals see 12 nations battling it out to triumph at the prestigious women’s team event – with Canada looking to defend their title.
With action underway on Wednesday, we highlight five of the biggest names to keep an eye on.
Iga Swiatek – Poland
The biggest draw from an international perspective is world No 2 Swiatek, who surprisingly announced last month that she would join up with Team Poland in Malaga.
Five-time major winner Swiatek skipped the Finals in 2023 after a busy season but, having missed the Asian swing, the Pole is mentally and physically fresh enough to compete.
Poland already had a solid team with the likes of Magdalena Frech and Magda Linette, though Swiatek’s presence is a huge boost for captain Dawid Celt – and puts them among the leading title contenders.
An opening-round test against home favourites Spain – with Swiatek set to face Paula Badosa – will be fascinating, and could prove to be a key tie in the event.
Paula Badosa – Spain
Up against Swiatek, home hope Badosa will hope to continue her recent resurgence and help guide her nation past Poland – and ultimately to a sixth Billie Jean King Cup title.
World No 12 Badosa comes into the event as one of the form players of recent months, having won a fourth WTA title in Washington alongside reaching the US Open quarter-finals.
The 26-year-old finds herself back inside the top 15 of the WTA Rankings after falling outside the top 100 earlier this year and will use home support to her advantage against Swiatek.
The pair have split their previous meetings, but have not met since the 2021 WTA Finals.
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Emma Raducanu – Great Britain
All indications suggest Raducanu will play for Great Britain in Malaga, despite a disrupted end to her season after sustaining a ligament injury at the Korea Open.
The Brit has not played in almost two months but did play a starring role in sealing Britain’s place in the Finals, winning both her rubbers in a surprise 3-1 qualifier victory over France.
Raducanu’s season has been strange but when she has played, she has generally competed at a solid level and finds herself back in the top 60 of the rankings.
She is set to face Eva Lys of Germany in Britain’s opening tie, before a potential quarter-final against reigning champions Canada.
Danielle Collins – USA
With Coco Gauff not entering and Jessica Pegula withdrawing, world No 11 Collins flies the US flag as the nation’s No 1 singles player in Malaga.
Collins starred during the early part of the season, winning titles in Miami and Charleston, though lost in the opening round of the US Open and has not played since early September due to injury.
However, the 30-year-old is the third highest-ranked player in action across the event and is key to America’s chances of winning a first title since 2017.
