Earlier this year, Danielle Collins sent shockwaves across the tennis circuit after she announced her retirement plans. Despite being at her peak, the 30-year-old revealed that she will quit the sport at the end of this season. Although she didn’t have the best of endings at the Grand Slam level, as she lost in the first round of the US Open, Danielle Collins has a chance for redemption while representing her country.
Earlier today, the American team for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals was announced. Despite the absence of Coco Gauff, there is enough firepower in the team that will be led by Jessica Pegula. In Gauff’s absence, the onus will be on Danielle Collins to take care of singles duties along with Pegula as she looks to have one last laugh before she calls time on her illustrious career.
The team’s captain, Lindsay Davenport selected Taylor Townsend, Caroline Dolehide, and Peyton Stearns as the other three members of the team, which will be a favorite going into the tournament. Meanwhile, Emma Navarro, who reached the semifinals of the US Open, will miss the tournament.
The 12-team knockout stage of the Billie Jean King Cup will be played in Malaga at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, starting November 13. The American team is set to play its first round against Slovakia, with the winner facing Australia in the next round. Each tie will feature a best-of-three format, with two singles matches and a doubles match.
Canada is the tournament’s defending champion, having defeated Italy last year in the summit clash. Apart from the star-studded American team, there will also be other teams with big names in the event.
Billie Jean King Cup’s tournament director: ‘A spectacular fortnight of tennis’
Interestingly, this year’s edition of the Billie Jean King Cup will be overlapping with the Davis Cup final eight. Nonetheless, the tournament won’t be lacking any firepower as it will feature the likes of Paula Badosa, Naomi Osaka, and Jasmine Paolini, apart from Pegula and Danielle Collins. As a result, the tournament’s director, Conchita Martinez couldn’t control her excitement.
She said, “This is a stellar line up of some of the world’s best players, and I can’t wait to watch them battle it out in Malaga in November. As a player, there is no greater honour than representing your nation, and every player who puts on their team’s colours in November will be giving everything they have to win this prestigious title for their country. Overlapping with the Davis Cup Final 8 is going to make for a spectacular fortnight of tennis and I can’t wait to welcome the tennis world to Málaga this November.”
Coco Gauff is, however, missing from the tournament, but moving ahead, she would aim to regain her lost mojo back in the Asian swing of the WTA Tour after some poor performances of late. All-in-all, it promises to be an exciting few months ahead for American tennis.
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