The US women’s tennis team led by top-seeded American Jessica Pegula is in Delray Beach, Florida playing Billie Jean King Cup qualifying matches against Austria on April 14 and 15.
Pegula leads a US team that includes her doubles partner Coco Gauff as well as Danielle Collins, Sofia Kenin, and Caty McNally.
The team captain is 1985 Wimbledon semifinalist Kathy Rinaldi.
@CocoGauff captain Kathy Rinaldi & @JLPegula all in town hoping the rain stops by Friday for start of Billie Jean King Cup! pic.twitter.com/XMlMOZg1tA
— Richard Ingham Evans (@Ringham7) April 12, 2023
The Austrian team only has one player ranked in the WTA Top 100, Julia Grabher who is ranked 78th in the world, but Pegula, Gauff, and company are not taking them lightly.
If the US team is able to defeat Austria, it will advance to the finals in November.
Five matches are scheduled over the two-day period, and the first team that gets three wins is the victor.
The US team is seeking its 19th title in the competition that dates back 60 years.
History is always written at the Billie Jean King Cup 🏆
Trophy lifts throughout the 60 years of #BJKCup pic.twitter.com/flrtsA4OGO
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 13, 2023
The Billie Jean King Cup was previously known as The Fed Cup; its name was changed in 2020.
Both Pegula and Gauff like the team concept as tennis tends to be an individual sport.
They look forward to cheering on their US compatriots from the sidelines.
An Honor To Compete For The US
Pegula talked about the emotions involved in representing the US.
“Especially at the beginning, when you do the walkouts and everything, I think it’s pretty emotional.”
Then, it is all about tennis, and Pegula gets to work as she does in matches at other events.
Being The Home Team Is A Big Boost
Home court advantage is something the US team is embracing.
Gauff is expecting to see familiar faces at the Delray Beach Tennis Center because family and friends are traveling to Florida to see the matches.
Another positive is that Gauff and Pegula play well in Florida.
The last time they played in the Sunshine State (nearly two weeks ago), they won the Miami Open doubles title.
Beautiful way to wrap it all up. Gauff and Pegula defeat Townsend and Fernandez for the @MiamiOpen women's doubles title. pic.twitter.com/uCvG8ISCBQ
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) April 2, 2023
After the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers, the US players will travel to Europe as the clay court season gets in full swing in advance of The French Open which starts on May 22, 2023.
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