Pegula, Collins Lead USA in King Cup Qualifying

By Tennis Now | @TennisNow | Thursday, March 13, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty

Vetera champions will lead Team USA at next month’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier.

US Open finalist Jessica Pegula and Miami and Charleston champion Danielle Collins head the United States squad announced by captain Lindsay Davenport.

McCartney Kessler, Asia Muhammad and Desirae Krawczyk join Collins and Pegula representing the USA as they compete against Denmark and hosts Slovakia in Group C of 2025 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifying held April 11-13 in Bratislava.

The Qualifiers feature 18 nations competing in six round-robin groups around the world April 10-13, with the winner of each group advancing to the Finals to compete for the championship.

The Finals will be an eight-nation bracket competition played the second week of November in Shenzhen, China, with defending champions Italy and hosts China already confirmed.

The USA will compete in Group C against Denmark and Slovakia 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 prior to the start of each tie. While the winner of the group advances to the Finals, the second- and third-place finishers must then compete in the Playoff round, also in November and also played in round-robin groups, in order to return to the Qualifying pool for 2026.

Tennis Channel will carry live coverage in the U.S.

Billie Jean King Cup Qualifying Schedule

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

The United States leads all nations in Billie Jean King Cup titles, with 18. The USA is 2-0 all-time vs. Denmark (1990 and 1992 second rounds) and 0-2 vs. Slovakia (2021 Finals group stage; 2024 Finals first round).

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 U.S. in Billie Jean King Cup each of the last three years.

Collins, 31, is ranked No. 14 in singles and was ranked 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. Already this year she won her second career WTA singles title (Hobart) and reached her third career final (Austin) in only her second year competing on tour. This 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 to date.

Krawczyk, 31, is ranked No. 15 in doubles and has been 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 U.S. team for 2022 Qualifying.