Mastercard has recently announced a significant sponsorship agreement with the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge, a prestigious team-based international women’s tennis tournament. This partnership builds on Mastercard’s existing presence in professional tennis through its support of events like the Australian Open and Roland-Garros.As part of this deal, Mastercard will introduce several innovations to enhance the Billie Jean King Cup experience. Notably, they are launching a new Global Rankings system and an inaugural “Team of the Year” award. These initiatives aim to provide a standardized method for measuring team performance on the court and highlight national teams that consistently demonstrate exceptional play in line with the tournament’s core values.

The collaboration was officially launched at a special event held on Regent Street in London, coinciding with Mastercard’s “Style of Our Own” campaign. Billie Jean King herself attended the launch to celebrate this new partnership.

For the 2025 edition of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, scheduled for September 16-21 in Shenzhen, China, Mastercard plans to introduce exclusive benefits for its cardholders attending the event. These include behind-the-scenes tours, access to player warm-up areas, participation in ceremonial events like the coin toss, and pre-sale ticket privileges.

According to Mastercard representatives, this partnership aligns with their strategy of supporting tennis as it gains global popularity. Recent statistics indicate that about 106 million people worldwide currently play tennis, marking a 25% increase since 2019. The company also aims to engage fans by connecting with their interests and values.

Officials from the Billie Jean King Cup welcomed Mastercard’s involvement as a key global partner, emphasizing its potential to elevate the tournament’s international profile and fan engagement efforts.