15 Oct 2026

Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) hosted the Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III for the first time in July and this did not go unrecognised as the world tennis governing body hailed its success as a global case study.

According to BTA president Oaitse Thipe, the tennis body, during its AGM in Kazakhstan, singled out the tournament for its intense off court impact, particularly its success the introduction of tennis to entirely new demographics.

The tournament, often referred to as the Women’s World Cup of Tennis, had previously suffered from low local visibility.

Thipe said the AGM highlighted that despite hosting the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time, BTA was able to reach new audience.

“These were people who previously did not understand what the Billie Jean King Cup was, or even that there is a Women’s World Cup of Tennis,” he said.

Thipe said the true benchmark of the tournament’s success extended far beyond the standard boundaries of competitive play.

While the national team achieved sporting glory by securing a promotion into the Europe/Africa Group II, the big achievement was in mass public education and sports advocacy.

“The tournament succeeded in demystifying the elite echelons of international tennis, breaking down barriers, and capturing the imagination of a brand-new generation of sporting enthusiasts,” he said.

According to Thipe, the international tennis community congratulated BTA for using the event to elevate the profile of the women’s game across the region.

He said the long-term developmental spin offs were expected to bear fruit for years, adding that by cultivating a passionate, knowledgeable local fan base, the BTA has laid the structural foundation for sustained public engagement, ensuring that the path of the women’s national team remain a matter of national interest.

“With these new fans, in the coming years, more people will be asking how our women’s national team is progressing in the competition, it was very important that we hosted such an event, and our ladies were successful,” he said. ENDS