FILE PHOTO: Billy Jean King is seen during an interview behind the scenes of Fed Cup Finals 2020 official draw in Budapest, Hungary February 11, 2020. ITF Tennis/via REUTERS"
Billie Jean King will be donating $50,000 to support humanitarian relief efforts for the war in Ukraine, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said on Thursday.
The United States will host Ukraine next week in a qualifier for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals - the revamped Fed Cup which was renamed in honour of King, a 12-times Grand Slam singles champion and the founder of the Women's Tennis Association.
The USTA previously said it will contribute 10% of its ticket revenue from the tie towards relief efforts in Ukraine, while the sport's seven governing bodies each donated $100,000.
Russia have been banned from defending their title following the country's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special operation". Belarus, a key staging area for the invasion, has also been banned from the competition.
Ukraine will take on the United States in a best-of-five qualifier in the Billie Jean King tournament, formerly known as the Fed Cup, on April 15-16. The tie will be played at an indoor hardcourt venue in Asheville, North Carolina.
The winners will qualify for the 2022 Finals, scheduled to be held in November.
