Comments on: Semifinal pairings set for BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup

By: Venus Williams wins Billie Jean King Cup and $400,000 | Ana Ivanovic

Venus Williams wins Billie Jean King Cup and $400,000 | Ana Ivanovic — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:59:42 +0000

[...] long-awaited Billie Jean King Cup in the BNP Paribas Showdown took place on Monday night in New York and the winner is seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus [...]

By: Marija

Marija — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:20:45 +0000

There was one person that told us here that Maria and Justine rejected to take part, but I saw no confirmation to that story.

By: boneyjc

boneyjc — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:05:22 +0000

It's all about marketability and ticket sales and box office draw. Don't forget sports is a business. The Williams sisters are a ticket draw. I would have replaced Serena with Maria Sharapova or Jelena. Maybe they were not available so they went to Ana?

By: Marija

Marija — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:20:29 +0000

Tennis fan, thank you very much. I think we have completely resolved the principle now.

By: Tennis fan

Tennis fan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:22:42 +0000

Okay so the initial participants are chosen by the grand slam winners of the year, Serena, Kim, and Svetlana. Then Because they need a 4th, Venus would be the most obvious choice option, because she was the last person to win a grand slam before those 3 players and was a grand slam and YEC finalist. Because Serena drops out, the next previous grandslam champion before Venus was Ana. There makes perfect sense. If another drops out then the next alternate should be Maria Sharapova.

By: Ana Ivanovic to replace Serena Williams at Madison Square Garden | Ana Ivanovic

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:38:12 +0000

[...] were having a discussion here on Women’s Tennis Blog as to how they chose players for the one-night exhibition event at [...]

By: Marija

Marija — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:13:21 +0000

So that's the principle. Then JJ was a black sheep last year.

By: Jack

Jack — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:41:35 +0000

The places go to the last 4 people who won slams I think so Serena, Kuznetsova and Clijsters and then Venus was the last person to win a slam besides those three at Wimbledon 2008.

By: Marija

Marija — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:25:54 +0000

Jacob, I think she does, or at least plays a large role. I think they primarily think of the attendance, which players are likely to attract the audience.

By: jacob

jacob — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:49:17 +0000

Oh, i see. so, she chooses?