Champions Switzerland drawn with heavyweights Czech Republic and U.S. for BJK Cup Finals

May 24 (Reuters) - Defending champions Switzerland have been drawn alongside former winners Czech Republic and the United States for the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on Wednesday.

The United States and the Czech Republic are the two most successful nations in the tournament's history, having won it a combined 29 times.

"This is the most difficult group of all with the two strongest nations in women's tennis at the moment," Swiss team captain Heinz Gunthardt said.

"The Czech Republic and the U.S. not only have excellent singles players, but also the best doubles players in the world. But the Billie Jean King Cup is not a normal tournament and we are confident of advancing."

Seville will host the showpiece women's team event, which features 12 nations and will take place from Nov. 7-12. Teams will compete in four round-robin groups of three, with the four group winners progressing to the semi-finals.

Seven-times winners Australia will battle it out with Kazakhstan and Slovenia, while hosts Spain, Canada and Poland make up the third group for the event.

Fourth seeds France, who have won the tournament three times, have been drawn with four-times winners Italy and Germany.

Group A: Switzerland, Czech Republic, United States

Group B: Australia, Kazakhstan, Slovenia

Group C: Spain, Canada, Poland

Group D: France, Italy, Germany

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