BEIJING: Defending champions Italy, featuring world number nine Jasmine Paolini, will face hosts China led by Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen when the Billie Jean King Cup finals kick off on Sept 16 in Shenzhen, tournament organisers said on Monday.

The tournament, traditionally held in November, was brought forward to September to align the premier women`s team competition with the start of the WTA Tour`s Asian swing.

World number 10 Paula Badosa will be in action on Sept 17 when Spain face Ukraine in the second quarterfinal. The United States play Kazakhstan and Britain take on Japan in the remaining last-eight matches the next day.

The semi-finals will take place on the following two days, with the final set for Sept 21.-Reuters