| Photo by Christian Tenguan on Unsplash
NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula and Danielle Collins will lead the United States team for the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in April 2025. McCartney Kessler, Asia Muhammad, and Desirae Krawczyk are joining them. The team, captained by Lindsay Davenport, will compete in Group C against Denmark and Slovakia in Bratislava, Slovakia, from April 11-13.
Since its inception in 1963, the Billie Jean King Cup, formerly known as the Fed Cup, has seen many champions. The US holds the record for the most titles, with an impressive 18 victories. Other notable champions include the Czech Republic, with 11 titles, and Australia, with seven titles.
Over the past decade, several teams have dominated the Billie Jean King Cup:
- Czech Republic: They have been a powerhouse, winning multiple titles, including victories in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Their consistency and depth of talent have made them a formidable force.
- Russia (RTF): They claimed the title in 2021, showcasing their strength with a team of top-ranked players.
- France: They secured a memorable victory in 2019, defeating Australia in a thrilling final.
- Switzerland: In 2022, they won their first-ever Billie Jean King Cup title, marking a historic achievement for the team.
- Italy: They made a strong comeback in 2024, winning the title after an 11-year gap. They defeated Slovakia 2-0 in the final in Málaga, Spain. Jasmine Paolini played a crucial role, securing the decisive victory with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Rebecca Šramková.
These teams have consistently performed at the highest level, making their mark in the competition.
The competition has evolved, showcasing incredible talent and teamwork from nations worldwide. In the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Zone, there are typically two groups at each level (Group I and Group II). Teams are divided into these groups for the round-robin stage, and their performance determines whether they advance, stay, or are relegated.
Here’s a breakdown of how the groups in the Billie Jean King Cup are typically structured:
Group
Group Composition: In Group I and Group II of the Asia/Oceania Zone, teams are divided into pools, usually based on rankings and regional considerations. Group I generally features higher-ranked teams, while Group II consists of teams aiming to advance to Group I.
Round-Robin Format:
Each team plays against every other team in their pool. These matches determine the rankings within each pool.
Playoff Matches: In Group I, the top teams from each pool face off in playoffs for a chance to advance to the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers, leading to global competition. Group II’s playoffs decide which teams will be promoted to Group I next season.
Relegation and Promotion: Lower-performing teams in Group I might be relegated to Group II. Group II’s bottom teams remain at the same level for the following year.
It’s a system designed to ensure fair competition and opportunities for teams to progress or regroup based on performance.
This year, the US will compete in Group C on an indoor hard court inside Peugeot Arena at Slovakia’s National Tennis Center in Bratislava. Each matchup is a best-of-three tie featuring two singles and one doubles match, all best-of-three tiebreak sets. Captains submit their singles and doubles lineups one hour before the start of each tie. While the winner of the Group advances to the Finals, the second- and third-place finishers must compete in the Playoff round in November and play in round-robin groups to return to the Qualifying pool for 2026.
The Qualifying Group C schedule is below. Tennis Channel will carry live coverage in the US.
- Friday, April 11 (3 p.m. local)
Slovakia v. Denmark - Saturday, April 12 (3 p.m. local)
USA v. Denmark - Sunday, April 13 (3 p.m. local)
USA v. Slovakia
Profile of the US team members
Pegula, 31, is the second-ranked American in singles at No. 4 and recently won her seventh career WTA singles title in Austin amid a seven-match win streak. A 2024 US Open singles finalist, Pegula has clinched Qualifying victory for the US in Billie Jean King Cup each of the last three years.
Collins, 31, is ranked No. 14 in singles and as high as No. 8 last year. A 2022 Australian Open singles finalist, Collins has a 7-2 career singles record in Billie Jean King Cup competition and has competed in four consecutive Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Kessler, 25, is ranked a career-high No. 48 in singles. This year, she won her second career WTA singles title (Hobart) and reached her third career final (Austin) in her second year of competing on tour. This year is her debut Billie Jean King Cup nomination.
Muhammad, 33, is ranked a career-high No. 10 in doubles. She won three of her 11 career WTA titles in 2024, and helped the USA advance to the 2022 Finals with a decisive Qualifying doubles victory (with Pegula) in her only BJK Cup appearance.
Krawczyk, 31, is ranked No. 15 in doubles and ranked as high as No. 7. A four-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion, Krawczyk won her 15th career WTA doubles title this year in Singapore. She was also a member of the US team for 2022 Qualifying.
