Jessica Pegula Goes All In to Cheer On Team USA’s Mettle Amid Promising Billie Jean King Cup Qualifying Campaign

Jessica Pegula’s decision to withdraw from the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers, coming after a grueling Sunshine Double and a victorious Charleston Open, significantly clouded Team USA’s outlook. Thanks to rising talents like Hailey Baptiste and Bernarda Pera, American’s got a strong chance now to make it to this year’s main BJK Cup event. After all, the country has been the most successful team at the event, emerging 18 times as champions and runner-ups on 12 occasions out of 60 participations. And now Pegula’s come forward to boost the team’s confidence despite not being a part of the qualifiers.

On Saturday, America’s Hailey Baptiste won her singles encounter against Denmark’s Rebecca Munk Mortensen to give a solid 1-0 lead to her country. She beat Mortensen with a score line of 6-1, 6-4. After her, it was Bernarda Pera’s turn to keep the momentum going. And she didn’t disappoint at all. Pera, 30, the part of an unfamiliar-looking American team this week, won her singles match with a score line of 6-3, 6-1 against Denmark’s Johanne Svendsen.

Then, in the doubles category, Team USA triumphed again thanks to the pair of Desirae Krawczyk and Asia Muhammad. They beat Laura Brunkel and Emilie Francati with a score line of 6-4, 6-1. With that, American dominated Denmark with a clean sweep (3-0).

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“I’m so proud how our two rookies played some of their best tennis,” said Team USA’ captain. “They both competed super hard, they did everything we talked about all week in practice, so I’m so happy for Hailey, I’m so happy for Bernarda. It means a lot to them and they really showed it today.” On the other hand, the one watching all this while was Pegula, who failed to contain her emotions.

She took to her Instagram to celebrate USA’s crucial win. Praising Pera and Baptiste, she simply wrote, “Let’s gooo,” accompanied by the American flag emoji.

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What was special regarding Pera and Baptiste was the fact they are making their BJK Cup debut this year. And in the qualifiers, they have already showed signs for a brighter future. However, their inclusion was quite dramatic, to say the least.

Last month, it was announced that Pegula and Danielle Collins would be part of Team USA for the BJK Cup qualifiers. The team also comprised players such as McCartney Kessler, Asia Muhammad and Desirae Krawczyk under Captain Lindsay Davenport. However, Collins and Pegula had their commitments set for the Indian Wells and Miami Open, followed by Charleston Open.

The qualifying phase was scheduled to take place from April 10 to April 13. But just days ago, it was revealed that Collins and Pegula opted not to participate after going through a hectic tennis phase in the last one month. That’s when Baptiste and Pera were included in place of these two. However, the journey is not yet over as one more crucial encounter awaits Team USA on Sunday.

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Team USA on the brink of qualification for 2025 Billie Jean King Cup

On Sunday, in their last qualifying match, American players will take on Slovakia. Yes, the same team that ousted Team USA last season in the main BJK Cup Finals during a third-set doubles tiebreak. Last November, America’s Taylor Townsend defeated Renata Jamrichova in the singles match. But Slovakia counter-punched immediately.

In the next singles battle, Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova outplayed Danielle Collins. And then, in the deciding doubles match, Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalíková defeated the American pair of Ashlyn Krueger and Townsend. Historically, in three ties against Slovakia, Team USA hasn’t won at all. Undoubtedly, taking the revenge be will be a priority as well as a necessity on April 13th.

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A victory will make them qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the 61st time. Sunday’s victor will secure a spot in the eight-nation Finals, scheduled for September 16-21 in Shenzhen, China. Italy, China, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Spain have already qualified. The defeated team will then compete in the playoff round the week of November 10 (a round-robin format with seven groups of three) for a chance to re-enter the 2026 qualifying pool.

“We know Slovakia’s tough. All of those players play their best tennis when they’re representing their country. My ladies will be well aware of that, and we’re going to get ready and maybe get a little revenge,” Davenport is confident about of her team’s chances. What are your thoughts on Team USA’s chances of qualification? Do you think it will beat Slovakia to avenge last year’s loss?

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