The Americans will have the opportunity to increase their record for most championships at the Billie Jean King Cup finals after Jessica Pegula advanced them there.
In Florida’s 4-0 win against Austria, Pegula and Coco Gauff both scored twice. After a 6-1, 6-3 win against Austria’s Julia Grabher on Saturday, Pegula gave the Americans a victory in the best-of-five match.
The third-placed Pegula stated, “I believe it’s exciting and a pleasure to be in this time and do it. Despite the pressure, getting up for such kinds of contests is enjoyable, in my opinion.
Gauff then teamed up with her previous partner Caty McNally to defeat Sinja Kraus and Melanie Klaffner 6-1, 6-4, giving the Americans a 3-0 lead. Pegula triumphed in her singles match on Friday as well. Gauff defeated Grabher in the first game while playing in her hometown.
The Americans may now go for a 19th victory in the women’s team competition.
U.S. captain Kathy Rinaldi said, “Knowing all of the American ladies, I believe they’re very competitive, so I’m sure they’re going to want to bring that Cup home, too.”
The finals, which will take place from November 7 to 12 at an undetermined location, have also been confirmed for France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Germany, and Italy. These countries, together with the current champion Switzerland, the runner-up in 2022, Australia, and one wild-card winner, will compete in the finals. A few more spaces will be filled on the second day of the two-day qualifications.
Except for Kazakhstan, every one of those countries has won the Cup. But now that Poland was defeated 3-1 at home by reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan has a chance. On Saturday in Astana, Rybakina defeated Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2 to secure Kazakhstan’s spot in the finals for the second time in a row.
That was a challenging game today. I was so exhausted that, to be quite honest, even at the conclusion of the on-court interview, I had trouble understanding the questions. After returning from America to Europe recently and maybe experiencing some travel tiredness, I felt better yesterday, Rybakina said.
Nevertheless, as I’ve already said, I’m thrilled that Kazakhstan has once again advanced to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and that we will be able to raise the flag of our country on such a significant platform.
Just one match, at Bratislava, Slovakia, between Italy and Slovakia, went the full distance. Martina Trevisan and Elisabetta Cocciaretto defeated Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova in the doubles match by scores of 6-4, 4-6, and 7-5 after the hosts overcame a 2-0 lead by winning two consecutive sets.
Other results: Caroline Garcia, the runner-up at the 2019 French Open, defeated Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-7 (10), 6-1 to give France a 3-1 victory over Britain. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the match between the Czech Republic and Ukraine was shifted to Turkey. Marketa Vondrousova delivered the Czech Republic a 3-1 victory against Ukraine; Nuria Parrizas-Diaz won for Spain’s second consecutive day; Germany rallied to defeat Brazil 3-1.
Slovenia and Romania will require an additional day because weather stopped the crucial doubles match in Koper, Slovenia, after the sides split four singles matches. Canada and Belgium would choose another venue on Saturday. The opening set is now tied 3-3; they will continue it early on Sunday.
