2026 Billie Jean King Cup Predictions and Odds

Kazakhstan (+250)

• Yulia Putintseva (79/343)
• Sonja Zhiyenbayeva (384/380)
• Zhibek Kumambayeva (375/105)
• Anna Danilina (NA/6)

Kazakhstan is going to be in tough against Spain in their first trip to the BJK Cup Finals, as the BJK Cup odds suggest. But in a knockout-style tournament, anything can happen! Yulia Putintseva was a top-20 player last year, and has made it to three Grand Slam quarterfinals, although none since 2020. Anna Danilina has been to four Grand Slam doubles finals, although she has lost them all.

It should be noted that Elena Rybakina is usually in this event for Kazakhstan, but she has an ankle injury and is coming off a thrilling US Open win.

Kazakhstan will have to steal one of the singles matches to have a chance, and there is now pressure on Putintseva to step up in China.

Spain (-333)

• Cristina Busca (35/14)
• Kaitlin Quevedo (73/599)
• Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (93/1121)
• Marina Bassols Ribera (129/529)
• Sara Sorribes Tormo (188/106)

Spain has won this event twice, but back in 1995 and 1998. However, none of their current players have been past the fourth round of a singles Grand Slam. Cristina Busca is their anchor, and she is coming off a trip to the doubles quarterfinals at the US Open. She can play in either format.

However, Spain does have more singles depth than Kazakhstan and they’ll need to make that pay off. I don’t think Spain will want to go into a doubles deciding match against Danilina and her partner. If they want to move on to the next round, they would do well to wrap up in the singles matches.

Ukraine (-476)

• Elina Svitolina (7/NA)
• Anhelina Kalinina (48/140)
• Katarina Zavatska (262/1057)
• Lyudmyka Kichenok (NA/52)

Elina Svitolina gives Ukraine a major advantage as the highest-ranked singles player by a wide margin at seventh in the world. She did make it to the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the French Open, and Svitolina beat Coco Gauff in the Italian Open, which she won for the third time.

Svitolina is an experienced player for her country with a 19-10 singles record for Ukraine. That will be needed as world #10 Marta Kostyuk is out with a wrist injury. But Anhelina Kalinina can provide support to Svitolina.

Ukraine can also put Lyudmyka Kichenok in the doubles match if necessary, and she has won Grand Slams doubles titles at the US Open and Wimbledon.

Anything can happen at these tournaments, but Ukraine could prove to be the best Billie Jean King Cup betting option on the board.

Belgium (+340)

• Hanne Vandewinkel (84/333)
• Greet Minnen (217/928)
• Jana Otzipka (474/427)
• Magali Kempen (NA/34)
• Lara Salden (NA/108)

Belgium counters with Hanne Vandewinkel, who is only 22, but moving up the WTA rankings already. She beat Ivo Jovic in the BJK Cup qualifiers in April, and Jovic was ranked in the top 20 at the time. She has been strong in Billie Jean Cup play overall with five straight wins.

However, it gets dicey after that for the Belgians on the singles side. Greet Minnen beat Jovic in the qualifier to put Belgium through, but her singles career has been generally underwhelming. Belgium just needs to get to the doubles deciding match.

If they can, Magali Kempen and Lara Salden could be a tough out for Ukraine. The two have played together plenty of times, and have won many ITF tournaments together.

Still, I just don’t think it’s enough to get past Ukraine, who should sweep the singles matches and make it to the semifinals.

Italy (+110)

• Jasmine Paolini (20/25)
• Elisabetta Cocciaretto (67/313)
• Lucia Bronzetti (130/1719)
• Tyra Caterina Grant (150/667)
• Sara Errani (NA/13)

Italy has been a juggernaut in the Billie Jean King Cup, making it to three straight finals, and winning the last two. The Italians also beat China 2-0 in last year’s quarterfinals, although both singles matches took three sets. They’re led by Jasmine Paolini, who has won her last eight BJK Cup matches, but she battled a foot injury this season, and lost in the third round of the US Open.

Italy’s second singles player is a bigger question, and it’s likely Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who lost in the first round of all four Grand Slams in singles this year. She did play well in last year’s BJK Cup last year, and Cocciaretto will need more of that.

If it goes to doubles, Paolini and Sara Errani are probably the team. They won the 2025 French Open together, and Olympic gold in Paris in 2024. However, Paolini’s fitness is worrying and a big factor in their 2026 Billie Jean King Cup odds.

China (-137)

• Zheng Qinwen (52/NA)
• Zhang Shuai (55/7)
• Wang Xiyu (83/361)
• Guo Hanyu (235/16)
• Jiang Xinyu (NR/21)

China would love to avenge last year’s loss to Italy, and they’re 0-3 against the Italians in this competition overall. But Zheng Qinwen is back after missing last year’s event due to injury, and went to the quarterfinals at the US Open. It’s also interesting that Qinwen has won all four meetings with Paolini on the WTA Tour.

Zhang Shuai struggled in singles Grand Slams this year, but she did win the Australian Open in doubles with Belgium’s Elise Mertens. But she could be China’s best chance to win a second singles match if they need it. China also has three players ranked in the top 21 in doubles if it does get to that point.

This could come down to doubles, and I have to lean towards China here. They’ll have the support of the home crowd, and I’m simply wary of Paolini’s foot injury. She hasn’t had a great season on the WTA Tour, and that makes it difficult to back the Italians, even with her pedigree in this event.