The Billie Jean King Cup finals in Shenzhen have been brought forward from November to September, organisers announced on Thursday.

The event had already been reduced from 12 teams to eight, aligning with the men's Davis Cup Finals.

Qualifiers for the finals started on Thursday, with teams fighting for six tickets to China to join the hosts and defending champions Italy.

"This rescheduling from November to September aligns the event with the start of the WTA tournaments in Asia, supporting player calendar flow," the organisers said.

The finals will get under way on September 16, with the final to be played on September 21.

Italy won their fifth title in the women's team event last year by defeating Slovakia in the final in Malaga.

The announcement came as world number 10 Elena Rybakina earlier in the day showed all her battling qualities to beat Kimberly Birrell 6-3 7-6(4) and give Kazakhstan an unassailable 2-0 lead over seven-times champions Australia in their Billie Jean King Cup qualifier in Brisbane.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, went down an early break in the Group D tie but cranked up her powerful forehand and drew level after six games before claiming the opening set on serve with a big ace at the end.

Birrell raced to a 5-1 lead in the next but squandered a set point and Rybakina clawed her way back with some ferocious shot-making to clinch victory via the tiebreak.

"It was such a difficult match," said Rybakina, who secured her eighth victory in 10 singles matches since her debut in the competition in 2021.

"I'm super happy to bring the win for the team ... it's always nice to be back in Australia."

Earlier, Yulia Putintseva defeated debutant Maya Joint 6-2 6-1 at Pat Rafter Arena to give Kazakhstan the early lead in the best-of-three matches contest. (AFP/Reuters)