ITF Press Release, July 14, 2023

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced that Conchita Martinez has been appointed as Tournament Director for the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals (7-12 November).

The former World No. 2 won the women’s World Cup of Tennis as part of Spain’s victorious national team on five separate occasions as a player. Martinez will lead the women’s showpiece event in Seville, where 12 national teams will battle it out to become World Champions, take home the coveted trophy and don the iconic Billie Blue jackets, designed by apparel partner Tory Burch.

Speaking at an ITF press conference to announce her appointment in London, alongside Billie Jean King herself, Martinez said: “It is a privilege for me to take on this role in the 60th year of the Billie Jean King Cup and I thank the ITF for this opportunity. Representing my country in this competition was always a great honour and to win it five times meant everything. I know today’s generation of players take as much pride in playing for their nations as I did, and I am excited to see that passion on show in Seville in November. Since re-branding Fed Cup to the Billie Jean King Cup, the event has gone from strength to strength. I will do everything I can to make sure that growth continues through this year’s Finals.”

Also in attendance at the press conference were David Haggerty (ITF President), Katrina Adams (Chair of ITF Advantage All and Billie Jean King Cup Committee) and Jose Maria Arrabal (Regional Secretary of Sports, Junta de Andalusia).

This year the Billie Jean King Cup is celebrating 60 years since the global event was first played in June 1963 in London. In Seville, teams will compete in four round-robin groups of three, with the four group winners progressing to the semi-finals.

Martinez played 53 ties for Spain in the Billie Jean King Cup (then known as the Fed Cup) from 1988 to 2004 and helped her country to win the competition in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1998.

In the 1991 Final against USA, she beat Zina Garrison and Gigi Fernandez in doubles alongside Arantxa Sanchez Vicario to clinch the trophy for Spain, their first title in the competition.

In the 1993 Final against Australia, she defeated Michelle Jaggard-Lai in straight sets as Spain went on to win the final 3-0 to lift the trophy for a second time. She was also part of the Spain squads that secured titles in 1994 and 1995 over the USA for three consecutive titles.

In the 1998 final against Switzerland, Martinez defeated Patty Schnyder in singles and Martina Hingis and Schnyder in the doubles alongside Arantxa Sanchez Vicario as Spain recovered from 2-1 down to win their fifth and last title in the competition to date.

Outside of Billie Jean King Cup competition, Martinez was the 1994 Wimbledon champion in singles, and reached Grand Slam finals in singles at the 1998 Australian Open and at the 2000 Roland Garros. She also reached the final in the women’s doubles at Roland Garros on two occasions, in 1992 and 2001, and peaked at world No. 7 in doubles.

Billie Jean King said: “Conchita always represented her country with great pride in this competition and we are very pleased to be announcing her as Tournament Director today. As a player she was passionate, bold and expressive and I know she will bring that approach to this role. Our mantra in this competition is ‘bigger, bolder, better’ and Conchita embodies that approach.”

David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “In Conchita Martinez we now have a legend of the women’s World Cup of Tennis leading the Finals this year. In such a significant year for the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge it is fitting that we will be working with Conchita, who always gave everything she had for her country and has a track record that’s second to none. This competition gets bigger, better and bolder every year and we look forward to working with Conchita to continue that growth.”

Jose Maria Arrabal (Regional Secretary of Sports, Junta de Andalusia), said: “We are very excited that Conchita has been appointed to this role. We are proud that Seville will host this year’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals, and that the Davis Cup Finals and both junior editions of the competitions will also take place in Andalusia – in Malaga and Cordoba respectively. Andalusia has earned this right to become a destination for international sporting events and the appointment of Conchita adds to our excitement.”