Lindsay Davenport has been given a two-year contract extension to remain Team USA’s Billie Jean King Cup captain.
Despite losing to Italy in this year’s Billie Jean King Cup final, the Americans kept their faith in Davenport.
Davenport, a three-time Billie Jean King Cup winner as a player, said this in reaction to the news.
“It’s an incredible honor to serve as U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Captain, and I’m thrilled and humbled to continue doing it, especially during such an amazing time for women’s tennis in America,” she said.
The 49-year-old has at least two more years in the role, but the pressure is now on to deliver the result the country so desperately needs.
Lindsay Davenport can’t afford to miss out on Billie Jean King Cup glory again
Losing to Italy in this year’s final, Team USA’s Billie Jean King Cup title drought continued.
The side last won the trophy in 2017, and have failed to add to their tally since.
Team USA at the Billie Jean King Cup
- 2017 Billie Jean King Cup – CHAMPIONS
- 2018 Billie Jean King Cup – Lost in F to the Czech Republic (3-0)
- 2019 Billie Jean King Cup – Lost in QF to Australia (3-2)
- 2020/2021 Billie Jean King Cup – Lost in SF to Russia (2-1)
- 2022 Billie Jean King Cup – Eliminated in GS
- 2023 Billie Jean King Cup – Eliminated in GS
- 2024 Billie Jean King Cup – Lost in 1R to Slovakia (2-1)
- 2025 Billie Jean King Cup – Lost in F to Italy (2-0)
Taking over as captain in 2024, Davenport oversaw a shock defeat to Slovakia in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals first round.
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While she deserves some credit for guiding the team to their first final in seven years, with the quality at their disposal, Team USA should be winning this competition fairly easily…
There are currently four American players ranked inside the WTA top ten, two of whom have won Grand Slam titles in 2025, with a third reaching two major finals.
2025 year-end WTA top 10
| Rank | Name | Country | Best Grand Slam result in 2025 | Points |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | W – US Open | 10,870 |
| 2 | Iga Swiatek | Poland | W – Wimbledon | 8,395 |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | USA | W – French Open | 6,763 |
| 4 | Amanda Anisimova | USA | F – Wimbledon, US Open | 6,287 |
| 5 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan | 4R – Australian Open, French Open, US Open | 5,850 |
| 6 | Jessica Pegula | USA | SF – US Open | 5,583 |
| 7 | Madison Keys | USA | W – Australian Open | 4,335 |
| 8 | Jasmine Paolini | Italy | 4R – French Open | 4,325 |
| 9 | Mirra Andreeva | Russia | QF – French Open, Wimbledon | 4,319 |
| 10 | Ekaterina Alexandrova | Russia | 4R – French Open, Wimbledon, US Open | 3,375 |
They also have their fair share of elite doubles players to call upon, including Taylor Townsend, the former world number one.
The challenge for Davenport is getting all these stars to commit to playing, but if they can, then winning should be a formality in 2026.
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If they fail to do so in 2026 or 2027, it’s tough to imagine the USTA giving Davenport another contract extension…
Where do Team USA sit in the Billie Jean King Cup rankings?
Team USA sit second, behind Italy, the team that beat them in this year’s final.
| Rank | Country | Captain | Points |
| 1 | Italy | Tathiana Garbin | 1,435 |
| 2 | USA | Lindsay Davenport | 1,246.25 |
| 3 | Great Britain | Anne Keothavong | 1,215 |
| 4 | Canada | Marie-Eve Pelletier | 1,143.75 |
| 5 | Spain | Carla Suarez Navarro | 1,093.75 |
| 6 | Czechia | Barbora Strycova | 1,085 |
| 7 | Poland | Dawid Celt | 1,048.75 |
| 8 | Ukraine | Illya Marchenko | 1,035 |
| 9 | Kazakhstan | Yuriy Schukin | 1,022.5 |
| 10 | Japan | Ai Sugiyama | 996.25 |
Only time will tell if any of the above will win the title in 2026, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
The 2026 Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers will begin on the week commencing April 6.
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