Team USA captain Lindsay Davenport has vocalised her thoughts after her team reached the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2021.
Emma Navarro saved match points during a marathon contest against Yulia Putintseva, winning 7-5, 2-6, 7-6, before the US team were pegged back by Elena Rybakina, who defeated Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-1.
However, the US team were not to be denied, as Pegula and Taylor Townsend teamed up to defeat Rybakina and Putintseva in the doubles, 6-2 7-6.
Davenport, who won three BJK Cup titles during her playing career, spoke on-court after the contest, where she conveyed her thoughts.
Lindsay Davenport’s immediate reaction
Speaking on-court after clinching the tie, Jessica Pegula said: “It was a quick turnaround for Elena and I.
“I was happy I was able to get another chance to compete and get a win for my team. We’re really excited to be through.”
Davenport then added: “We knew it was going to be really tough today.
Really proud of everyone on the team for fighting hard. For Jess coming back for singles on such short notice, for Taylor [Townsend] for playing so well, and Emma [Navarro] did such a great job earlier.
“We knew it was going to be tough, we’re thrilled to get through. Thank you so much.”
In the post-match press conference, the 1999 Wimbledon Ladies Singles champion added: “Yeah, so happy and so proud of all the ladies on this team. We knew it was going to be so tough when we saw the draw even a couple months ago.
“We got into a big battle today. Emma was outstanding in hanging around and figuring out a way to pull a match out that I’m not sure she was going to win at one point.
“Saving a couple of match points… We knew that was the one we really wanted to win and get the tie off to a good momentum.
“Rybakina played so well. Wasn’t much Jess could do out there. Indoors, she’s hitting her serves, hitting her groundstrokes like that.
“We knew in doubles we had a great advantage. Two of the best doubles players in the world. Both have been ranked No. 1 in the world. We are so happy to be able to play again on Saturday.”
The USA will play either Great Britain or Japan in the semi-finals
The USA have joined Italy and Ukraine in the semi-finals, with one more match still to be played.
Later on Thursday, Great Britain will hope to move a step closer to achieving something they have never done in the competition’s history, when they face Japan in the BJK Cup quarter-finals.
Both teams have significant absences, with GB competing without Emma Raducanu, and Naomi Osaka injured.
The winner of this contest will go on to face the USA in the semi-finals. Great Britain’s team consists of Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Francesca Jones and Jodie Burrage, while the Japan contingent features Moyuka Uchijima, Ena Shibahara, Nao Hibino, Eri Hozumi and Shuko Aoyama.
