BJK-Cup
Austria will meet Ukraine in the play-off for the qualifying round for the 2025 final tournament in the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup. That was the result of the draw on Tuesday. The ÖTV team qualified for the play-offs by winning group A in Pool A of the Europe-Africa Zone I at the beginning of April; Ukraine lost to Romania in this year’s qualifying tournament.
30.04.2024 14.03
Online since today, 2:03 p.m
The draw resulted in an away game for Austria, which has to prepare for a difficult encounter. Because while Julia Grabher is the best-placed Austrian at world number 132, there are five Ukrainians in the top 50, including the former world number three Elina Switolina (currently number 18).
“From a sporting perspective, this is of course one of the hardest hurdles possible and an enormous challenge for our national team,” said ÖTV President Martin Ohneberg. #“We are looking forward to this task, and I am sure that our captain Marion Maruska and “Her team will do everything they can to perhaps create a big sensation in November.”
One win and one loss so far
This is Austria’s third duel with Ukraine, a 3-0 win in 1994, followed by a 2-1 defeat in 2014. If the ÖTV women manage to win on November 15th and 16th or 16th and 17th, they would play for a place in the BJK final tournament in the spring of next year. Last year the final stop was in the play-off against Mexico.
The encounter will take place at a neutral location due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The Ukrainians recently played their games in Florida, Antalya and Vilnius.
