The draw for the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifiers took place on Monday at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) offices in London, Great Britain. Team Canada has been designated to play Kazakhstan, set to take place on April 10 and 11, 2026. The choice of playing surface and venue will be confirmed by the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation in due course.
Team Canada will participate in the Qualifiers after finishing atop its group in the 2025 Play-offs, defeating Denmark and host nation Mexico. Prior to the Play-offs, the Canadian team took part in the 2025 Qualifiers in Tokyo, Japan, which were then held in a round-robin format, winning against Romania before falling to Japan in the decisive doubles rubber. During the 2025 season, five Canadians were selected to the team for the first time, combining for seven wins and two losses: Victoria Mboko (5-0), Carson Branstine (1-0), Cadence Brace (0-1), Kayla Cross (1-1), and Ariana Arseneault (0-0).
Currently ranked at No. 4 in the world rankings, Canada is set to take on ninth-ranked Kazakhstan. This will be the second meeting between the two countries, who previously faced each other in the 2017 World Group II Play-offs in Montreal, Quebec. Canada won the encounter 3-2, with two wins from Françoise Abanda and one from Bianca Andreescu, who was only 16 at the time. The victory over Kazakhstan was the Canadian team's 100th winning tie at the Billie Jean King Cup. Canada currently holds an all-time record of 114 wins and 75 losses.
Starting in 2026, each Qualifier tie will consist of two singles matches on the first day, followed by a doubles match and two singles matches on the second day, mirroring the format currently used in Davis Cup play. This marks the first time in the competition's history that the doubles match will be guaranteed.
The winner between Canada and Kazakhstan will progress to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in September, where they will compete alongside the six other winning nations, as well as host China, P.R., whose place in the final stage of the competition in Shenzhen is already secured.
The draw results for the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers are listed below.
Italy (1) (c)** v Japan
Belgium (c) v USA (2)
Australia (c)* v Great Britain (3)
Kazakhstan (c) v CANADA (4)
Slovenia (c)* v Spain (5)
Switzerland (c) v Czechia (6)
Ukraine (c) v Poland (7)
(c) = choice of ground; * = choice of ground decided by lot, ** = choice of ground as 2025 champions
Feature photo: Sarah-Jade Champagne
