ORLANDO, FL., April 14, 2024
Jessica Pegula clinched Billie Jean King Cup Qualifying victory for the third straight year on Saturday, sending the United States into the Finals with a 6-2, 6-0, singles triumph over Hanne Vandewinkel at the USTA National Campus.
Picture Perfect JPeg 📸@JPegula eases past Vandewinkel 6-2, 6-0 to secure USA a spot in the #BJKCup Finals! 🇺🇸@USTA pic.twitter.com/41d5vIrg3o
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 13, 2024
Caroline Dolehide and Taylor Townsend capped the tie with a 6-2, 6-1, dead doubles win over Marie Benoit and Kimberley Zimmermann, giving captain Lindsay Davenport a clean sweep in her debut tie.
“Honestly, it was fun spending time with these ladies, getting to know them. Some I didn’t know that well before I got here. I was really pleased with how this ‘first week’ went,” said Davenport.
The United States joins a 12-nation Finals field of defending champions Canada, runners-up Italy, host nation Spain, wild card Czechia and fellow Qualifiers Australia, Switzerland, Great Britain, Japan, Slovakia and the winners of Ukraine-Romania and Brazil-Germany. The Finals will be played in November in Seville, Spain, with specific dates to be announced.
Day 1 Match Results:
Jessica Pegula (USA) d. Sofia Costoulas (BEL), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Emma Navarro (USA) d. Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Day 2 Match Results:
Jessica Pegula (USA) d. Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL), 6-2, 6-0
Caroline Dolehide and Taylor Townsend (USA) d. Marie Benoit and Kimberley Zimmermann (BEL), 6-2, 6-1
