The United States Tennis Association has announced its five-player roster for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, set to take place from September 16 to 21 in Shenzhen, China. While the squad features prominent players, Coco Gauff absent from BJK Cup remains a notable development.
Leading the team is Jessica Pegula, ranked World No. 4, who stands as the highest-ranked American in the competition. Alongside Pegula, Emma Navarro, currently ranked World No. 9, represents a strong singles contender. Navarro, 24, made her Billie Jean King Cup debut in April 2024, delivering a comeback victory against Belgium after dropping the first set.
Madison Keys, sitting at World No. 6, completes the singles lineup. With over a decade in professional tennis, Keys brings valuable experience to the squad. The roster is rounded out by doubles specialists Hailey Baptiste and Taylor Townsend, both of whom contribute significant strengths in team doubles play.
Contributions of Hailey Baptiste and Taylor Townsend to Team Success
Hailey Baptiste was instrumental during the qualifying rounds, remaining undefeated in singles matches against Denmark and Slovakia. Her strong performances helped secure the United States’ place in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals during a period when many top players were unavailable. Taylor Townsend adds a wealth of doubles expertise, being a consistent member of American team tennis over the years.
Reasons Behind Coco Gauff’s Unexpected Omission
Coco Gauff’s exclusion from the announced lineup stands out as one of the most significant narratives relating to the team’s final selection. Gauff has expressed deep pride in representing the United States, previously stating that playing for Team USA gave her “goosebumps.”
This absence is especially striking given her recent affirmations of the honor involved in wearing the national colors. Gauff was the first American tennis player to carry the flag at the Paris Olympics, and earlier this year, she contributed to Team USA’s victory at the United Cup alongside Taylor Fritz, helping secure the nation’s second title in three years.
In the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup qualifying rounds, then-teenager Gauff played a pivotal role in a dominant 4-0 win that earned the Americans a spot in the finals. She won her singles match against Julia Grabher convincingly, 6-1, 6-3, and paired with Caty McNally to defeat Melanie Klaffner and Sinja Kraus 6-1, 6-4 in doubles.
Since her first-round loss at Wimbledon to Dayana Yastremska, Coco Gauff has not yet returned to competitive play, which could be a factor in her absence from the BJK Cup squad.
Implications for U.S. Team’s Prospects and Next Steps
The U.S. team, spearheaded by Pegula, Navarro, and Keys, enters the Billie Jean King Cup Finals with strong singles options and proven doubles pairings in Baptiste and Townsend. Coco Gauff’s absence may create opportunities for other players to step up, but it also highlights the challenges the team faces in balancing star power and form heading into the event in Shenzhen.
How the team adapts without Gauff—and how the selected players perform—will be closely watched as the Billie Jean King Cup Finals approach in mid-September.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Coco Gauff a millionaire?
A. Coco Gauff, a teenage tennis star, is worth millions. She earns and uses her money in various ways. After winning the 2023 US Open, she became a Grand Slam champion. This victory in New York City earned her an extra $3 million at just 19 years old.
Q. Does Coco Gauff have a degree?
A. Congratulations to @CocoGauff for finishing high school! She got her diploma from the Florida Department of Education. Gauff finished her classes through Florida Virtual Flex. At 18, she successfully handled her studies while starting a thriving tennis career, managing both for four years.