Melbourne 2026 Qualifier: Australia v Great Britain
All the details of Australia's upcoming tie against Great Britain in Melbourne for a place in the BJK Cup 2026 Finals.
For the first time in 15 years, the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge will return to Melbourne this April, with Australia’s newest star Talia Gibson set to make her playing debut.
Headlining a blockbuster clash, the Culture Amp Australian Billie Jean King Cup team will take on Great Britain in the upcoming Qualifier tie at John Cain Arena from Friday 10 to Saturday 11 April.
Australia’s newest tennis star Talia Gibson – who is on the verge of the top 50 following a breakout run to the Indian Wells quarterfinals and Miami Open fourth round, both times as a qualifier – joins world No.80 Kimberly Birrell, former world No.1 doubles player Storm Hunter and former world No.8 doubles player Ellen Perez.
Gold Coast 17-year-old Emerson Jones rounds out the squad, featuring in the green and gold for the first time.
The winner of the tie will advance to the eight-nation Finals, scheduled for September in China.
With no AFL matches in Melbourne at this time, the BJK Cup brings families an affordable and exciting weekend of world-class tennis at Melbourne Park.
The two nations will compete in a best-of-five-rubber format, consisting of four singles matches and one doubles match. Each match is played as best of three sets.
Tickets are now on sale via Ticketek with adult tickets from $23 and two-day adult ticket packages from $34.70. Kids 12&U go free across both days. For more information or to book, click here.
For more information about the Billie Jean King Cup visit here.
Fast facts
- Australia is one of four nations to have competed in the BJK Cup competition every year since it began.
- Australia sits third on the all-time champions list with 7 wins, only behind Czechia (11) and United States (18).
- Evonne Goolagong, Dianne Fromholtz and Janet Young last led Australia to Fed Cup victory in 1974.
- In 2025, Australia lost their Qualifiers tie 2–1 to Kazakhstan. However, they rebounded with a 2–0 Play-off win over Brazil to secure a place back in the 2026 Qualifiers against Great Britain.
- Melbourne last hosted a BJK Cup tie in April 2011, with Ukraine defeating Australia 3-2.
- Australia last played Great Britain in a BJK Cup tie in the 2022 Qualifiers, winning 2-1 after a nail-biting tie-deciding doubles super tie-break.
- Australia is currently ranked the No.12 nation in Billie Jean King Cup rankings.
- Australia has finished runners-up twice in recent years, in 2019 and 2022.
