The famous former tennis player and first Spaniard to become Wimbledon champion, Conchita Martínez, says it: “Women are gaining ground in tennis. We are fighting for more female coaches on the circuit and also equality in prizes; In the Grand Slams we already have it. In the semifinals and finals of the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup the prize is the same. Little by little, things are being achieved, but there is still a lot of work to be done,” shares the director of the Billie Jean King Cup, the largest international team competition in women’s sports, which ended yesterday with the victory of Italy.
Named after legendary tennis player Billie Jean King, this competition not only celebrates the talent and dedication of female players, but also promotes gender equality in sport. Although women’s tennis is gaining in popularity, it is very different from what the former tennis player experienced when she was a player.
This competition, named after the legendary tennis player Billie Jean King
Conchita Martínez affirms that “Women are gaining ground in tennis”
“So, there were a lot of people who liked women’s tennis. It was a very good time with great players. There was greater consistency, that is, you liked Steffi Graf or Monica Seles and you could always follow them. Over the years, everything is improving: the rackets, the strings, the material used to play… Also prevention and the way of physically training. The players are more evenly matched and many times it is difficult to follow just one because, suddenly, the one who is number one, the following year, has dropped to position fifty. I think that women’s tennis has evolved a lot in strength, power and wisdom,” details the director of the Women’s Tennis World Cup.
They are not the only advances that have been introduced in this sport, female or male. The facilities where the tournaments are held increasingly have better facilities for the well-being and comfort of the tennis players. “The players’ area, medical services, prevention and recovery… These are steps forward to improve benefits. In addition to large courts and facilities for the players, so that they only have to worry about going out on the court and competing,” explains Conchita Martínez.
For the first time together
It was the first time in history that the two major tennis tournaments, the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup, have coincided in date and location for two days. And with Rafa Nadal’s withdrawal included. Malaga has become the epicenter of world tennis since last Thursday, November 14 – when, a day late due to Dana, the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup started – and will continue until next Sunday, the 24th – the date on that the grand final of the Davis Cup is being played–. The Billie Jean King Cup ended yesterday, Wednesday, November 20, one day after the Davis finals began.
The Spanish team poses with a Valencia flag during the presentation of the tie against Poland belonging to the first round of the Billie Jean King Cup,
“It could go in this direction in the future, bringing the two competitions together would be very positive. It is lucky to be able to see the best players in the world,” says the former tennis player. “Also, playing at home is always an extra motivation. All the players were very excited to do it in Malaga with their audience. But it couldn’t be, tennis is like that. Once you win, once you lose. The tie we had was very complicated. At first, Iga Swiatek was not going to come, then she changed her mind and came. Then things got a little more difficult. And we had it there, because Sara Sorribes played 3 hours 50 minutes with Magda Linette. She ended up losing, but the truth is that she gave everything on the track,” says the director of the women’s championship.
A ‘mini-city’ for tennis
In record time – the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup changed venue, from Seville to Malaga, this summer – a miniciudad that it was capable of hosting much larger facilities than in other years, always with the José María Martín Carpena Sports Palace and its capacity for more than 11,000 spectators as the protagonist. Next to the main pavilion in which the Davis Cup is played, a second stadium was created for more than 4,000 fans in which the women’s tournament was played. The project was completed with the players, where the athletes live and prepare (there are five training courts) and a gigantic hospitality area with a large buffet for sponsors and other special guests.
Next to the main Davis Cup pavilion, a second stadium was created in which the women’s tournament was played
This entire feat has been possible, in part, thanks to sponsors. “With their help much more can be invested in infrastructure. The Grand Slams, of course, already do it, also because they make a lot of money and can afford it. There are other smaller tournaments that cannot afford as much,” says Conchita Martínez.
Lexus is Official Automotive Partner of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals
Supporting both competitions are the official partners who contribute, year after year, to setting up top-of-the-line sporting events. Lexus has been doing it for five years with the Davis Cup. This year, for the first time, the brand has become the official automotive partner of the Billie Jean King Cup finals.
The feminine, too
“For us it has been super exciting to be able to incorporate women’s tennis. We have been sponsoring the Davis Cup for five years, now we are in the ATP. And the truth is that incorporating women’s tennis has been a source of pride, something very nice and that complements our support for tennis as a men’s and women’s sport, because in the end for us it is the same,” said Natalia Pérez, Lexus Press Manager. Spain, which has been in charge of transporting players and teams in the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup. Its Lexus Electrified range, from the iconic LC Cabrio, the RX or the NX plug-in hybrid, among others, has had a prominent space in the tournament.
We must give visibility, above all, to the sports that need it most and get people hooked on them.”
What is left for us to do to achieve to place women’s tennis at the same level as men’s? Conchita Martínez is clear about it. “Continue giving visibility to women’s sports in general. For example, in football, in Spain, there is a lot of winning, stadiums are being filled. In tennis we have been doing it for a long time. We must give visibility, above all, to the sports that need it most and get people hooked on them. Everything also depends on the visibility given to them in the press,” he clarifies.
For its part, the Billie Jean King Cup will continue to aspire, each day, to larger stadiums and fill them with spectators. As in their recent finals, where tickets have sold out in some qualifiers. Women’s tennis has taken off in Malaga.
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