Tennis-Champions France to open Billie Jean King Cup defence against Canada

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Fed Cup - World Group Semi-Final - France v Romania - Kindarena, Rouen, France - April 21, 2019 France's Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia celebrate victory in the semi-final REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo

(Reuters) - Reigning champions France will kick off this year's Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Prague against Canada on Nov. 1, with the final scheduled for Nov. 6, the International Tennis Federation said on Wednesday.

Formerly called the Fed Cup, the women's team competition featuring 12 nations was originally scheduled to be held in Budapest in April last year before being postponed twice due to the pandemic.