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By Utkarsh Rathour
New Delhi [India], April 6 (ANI): New Zealand non-playing captain Matthew Hair has acknowledged the challenges his team will face at this year's Billie Jean King Cup 2026 Asia/Oceania, following last year's victory over India.
Speaking at the DLTA Complex during an event here, Matthew Hair elaborated on the challenges posed by India, noting that last year's edition was different as their squad featured world number one Lulu Sun. With her absence this time, he said New Zealand will have to secure points in other areas in this year's tournament.
"I think it's going to be tough. Last year was a different event, and we had our number one player, Lulu Sun, who's a world-class player. We don't have her this year, so we'll have to earn our points in different areas," Hair told ANI.
Discussing team expectations in this tournament, Hair emphasised building a strong culture: "Our goal is to foster a really good culture within the team, something we've been working on for the past few years. Playing with pride for our country and upholding our values are central, and hopefully, the results will follow."
When asked about which opponents could pose the biggest challenge this year, Hair highlighted India and Indonesia. "All teams will be competitive, but I expect India and Indonesia to be very tough," he added.
New Zealand will face strong competition from India, Indonesia, the Republic of Mongolia, and Thailand. Notably, Indonesia has named world No. 40 Janice Tjen, the highest-ranked singles player at the competition. New Zealand team includes Monique Barry, Valentina Ivanov, Aishi Das, Erin Routliffe (Captain: Matthew Hair)
The Billie Jean King Cup follows a multi-tier, year-round format, structured like a pyramid. Teams begin in Regional Group events, such as Asia/Oceania Group I, competing for progression to the Play-offs and Qualifiers, before reaching the Finals, where the top eight nations battle in a knockout format for the title.
Each tie features a mix of singles and doubles matches, placing a premium on teamwork, depth, and strategy as players compete for national pride.
This year, six teams will compete in one round robin between Tuesday, 7 April and Saturday, 11 April. The top two nations in the group will be promoted to the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Play-offs in November, while the bottom two will be relegated to Asia/Oceania II in 2027.
Last year, India delivered a strong campaign in the Asia/Oceania Group I, registering wins over Thailand, Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei, and the Republic of Korea, before advancing to the Playoffs (Group G) despite a narrow defeat to New Zealand. (ANI)