The stage is set in Malaga! Team USA will face Slovakia in their opening showdown at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in just a few hours from now. Although the top three American women’s tennis Coco Gauff (3), Jessica Pegula (7), and Emma Navarro (8) are not available in this tournament, still this team is considered to be one of the favorites this year, and why not? Team USA has won this title the most number of times (18)! There is no shortage of options this year as well, and this is now also a big concern for the captain, Lindsay Davenport! Andy Roddick has now turned up to help her.

Danielle Collins will be leading them in singles, and Peyton Stearns is also expected to make her debut for the USA this week. Then there is Taylor Townsend, who’s also an option in singles and doubles. If Collins plays their first singles match, who’d then play the second one? Well, that’s a very tricky question! Andy Roddick recently appeared at the Tennis Channel Live Podcast and he shared a few thoughts on this.

According to Roddick, “To me when I’m looking at it between Stearns and Townsend, it’s gonna be a matchup dependent. What I like about Lindsay’s team is that Stearns obviously riding on a bit of a counter-punching game. Townsend is able to mix it up. The leftiness will play and do it. So…matchups decide all the time.” If we take a look at their singles record in the 2024 season, Taylor Townsend is currently ranked 69th in the world and she has a win-loss record of 15-16. On the other hand, Peyton Stearns (48) has a win-loss record of 21-21. Stearns even won his first WTA title this season in Rabat, Morocco.

So, Townsend has a vast experience on the Tour while Stearns offers a flare on the court! This is surely going to be a tough job for Lindsay Davenport to pick one out of them. Davenport previously revealed that she is quite fortunate to have so many amazing friends who have been captains before. “Mary Joe Fernandez was captain and is one of my best friends, Bob Bryan is the Davis Cup captain now, Jim Courier was previously. Those poor three souls spent a lot with me talking through what some of their beliefs were, in how they approached things, some of their guidelines. I’m really grateful to them.” Perhaps now, she would need their help too!

Team USA last won this Billie Jean King Cup title in 2017. So it has been almost seven years since they found success in this historic tournament. It’s time to deliver! Who were the first ones to raise their hands to take up the responsibility in this mission, though?

Team USA’s captain at the Billie Jean King Cup reveals the names of the two senior players who stepped up to take all the responsibilities

Jessica Pegula is currently suffering from a left knee injury, Emma Navarro who narrowly missed out on WTA Finals qualifications is also not in the squad, and even Coco Gauff’s absent. Obviously, it stirred a major curiosity among the fans. So, there was always a question about who’d step up to take up all the responsibilities in this mega event. According to Lindsay Davenport, “Danielle was the first one who told me yes in early August. She said ‘I never turn down the opportunity to represent my country’. Taylor is the same way. I think that starts the movement, where you have players where this means everything to them. That’s contagious and we’re looking to feed off their experience in this tie.”

Taylor Townsend has been very impressive in the doubles tournaments this year. She won three doubles titles, including her maiden Grand Slam triumph at the Wimbledon. During a recent interview, she was asked if she was ready for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. Her reply to this was simply, “Girl, yes. I do this. I could do this with my eyes closed.” 

She expressed her excitement for the unique team spirit of the Billie Jean King Cup and also highlighted the fact that she thrives in a team environment where she can take up a leadership role. “So like for me, I’ve always done so well in team environments because I’m a leader, so I really enjoy to create the atmosphere for my team and just to get everyone pumped up and fired up for the matches,” said the 28-year-old tennis star. Do you think Taylor Townsend and her team can bring the 19th title for their nation in the 2024 edition?