Omni Amelia Island Resort, a luxurious oceanfront retreat sprawling across 1,350 acres on a barrier island off the Northeast Florida coast, has been chosen as the venue for the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifying Tie between Ukraine and Romania. Scheduled for April 12-13, 2024, this event is a significant milestone for the resort, known for its Racquet Park featuring 22 har-tru clay tennis courts and a sunken stadium court.
The Svitolina Foundation, responsible for managing the Ukrainian women’s national team in the Billie Jean King Cup, selected Omni Amelia Island Resort as the new host site for this tie. The resort has a rich history in professional tennis, having served as the host site of the WTA International tournament from 1980 to 2008.
Elina Svitolina, the top-ranked Ukrainian player and former world No.3, expressed her excitement, stating, “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. Bush Tennis Center has been an amazing supporter and partner of the Svitolina Foundation, and to have them supporting us in our first tie as the organizing party of the Ukrainian Billie Jean King Cup team means a lot. We hope that many people can come out and support us as we take on Romania and really help us create a home atmosphere.”
The competition will be a best-of-five match series with the top women’s players from Ukraine and Romania competing to advance to the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals. The event is one of eight held around the world in April, with the winners of each advancing to the finals held in November in Seville, Spain, to compete for the title. The qualifier will begin on Friday, April 12th, with two singles matches, followed by two reverse singles matches and a doubles match on Saturday, April 13th. If one nation secures victory early, the schedule may be adjusted.
Tim Stallard, tie co-organizer and Executive Director of Bush Tennis Center, praised Omni Amelia Island Resort as an ideal venue for both teams, offering the local tennis community a unique opportunity to witness world-class tennis.
Tickets and VIP hospitality packages for the event will go on sale to the public on March 8th at 9 am. Stay tuned for more updates, including the final schedule and confirmed players. Proceeds from the tie will benefit the Svitolina Foundation and the Bush-Wikse ACE Outreach Program, supporting children worldwide with access to tennis equipment, programs, and resources.
The Svitolina Foundation is a charitable organization that has been working since 2019 to identify and support young talent and create the right conditions for them to ensure the future of Ukrainian tennis. Since the beginning of the large scale invasion, the Svitolina Foundation has launched new areas of activity: assistance to athletes and their families fleeing the war, a psychological support program for athletes, sports diplomacy, and a series of tournaments with grants of support for Ukrainian children.
