Sport Spot: Women's Tennis Play-off for Billy Jean King Cup

McKINNEY, Texas – The City of McKinney and Visit McKinney are proud to announce The Courts of McKinney at Gabe Nesbitt Park will host the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Play-off between the top women’s players from Ukraine and Austria on Nov. 16-17.

“The City of McKinney is honored to host the Billie Jean King Cup Play-off, an event that brings not only top-tier tennis to our community but also significant economic benefits,” said Mayor George Fuller. “Hosting a tournament of this caliber showcases our world-class facilities and puts McKinney on the global stage. Moreover, we are proud to provide a home for the Ukrainian team during such a challenging time, demonstrating our city’s commitment to supporting recreation and cultural exchanges.”

The competition will be a best-of-five match series and one of eight held worldwide in November. The winners will advance to the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier by Gainbridge next April. The play-off begins Saturday, Nov. 16, with two singles matches. Two reverse singles matches and a doubles match will follow on Sunday, Nov. 17. If one nation clinches victory in the third or fourth singles match, the schedule will be amended.

“This international event reflects McKinney’s dedication to fostering sports tourism and enhancing our city’s profile as a premier destination for world-class events,” said Aaron Werner, Director of Visit McKinney. “We’re proud to welcome athletes and fans from around the globe, who will not only experience our exceptional facilities and hospitality but also contribute to our local economy by staying in our hotels, dining in our restaurants, and shopping in our stores.”

The Courts of McKinney opened the new $11 million indoor tennis complex at Gabe Nesbitt Community Park in 2023. The six indoor courts are next to the existing outdoor tennis facility, bringing the total number of courts within the complex to 29. The building includes training rooms, administrative offices, locker rooms, and a second-level viewing mezzanine, creating one of the premier public tennis facilities in the country. With the completion of the new indoor facility, the city has been pursuing more largescale tournaments for all ages and skill levels.

“I am so excited to be part of this opportunity at The Courts of McKinney to bring a world-class international tennis event back to North Texas,” said Elina Svitolina, the current top-ranked player from Ukraine who was ranked No. 3 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association. “Of course, our dream would be holding our home tie in Ukraine, as it has always been, but during the war, it is not possible.”

Tickets and VIP hospitality packages will be available to the public starting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 17. All proceeds from the play-off will benefit the Svitolina Foundation and the Bush-Wikse ACE Outreach Program, supporting children worldwide with access to tennis equipment, programs, and other resources.