Lindsay Davenport Named Next U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Captain

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ORLANDO, Fla., September 27, 2023 – The USTA introduced that Corridor-of-Famer, Grand Slam champion and four-time year-end world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport would be the subsequent captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup crew. A 3-time Billie Jean King Cup champion, Davenport will grow to be the crew’s twentieth captain following the 2023 Finals, which will probably be captained by Kathy Rinaldi.

“Taking part in Billie Jean King Cup was at all times one thing that was an enormous precedence and an enormous spotlight for me throughout my profession. I at all times felt an incredible quantity of satisfaction representing my nation, and I’m excited to do it now in a special position,” Davenport stated. “Becoming a member of a prestigious record of U.S. captains is an unimaginable honor, and with the group of gamers that we’ve got now and their nice personalities, I actually couldn’t ask for a greater time to have this place.”

Davenport was one of the crucial profitable U.S. Billie Jean King Cup gamers in historical past, serving to to guide the U.S. to titles in 1996, 1999 and 2000. She performed in 20 ties over a report 11 years, going 26-3 in singles and 7-0 in doubles. Her 26 singles victories are tied with Billie Jean King for second all-time for the U.S., behind chief Chris Evert, and her 33 whole wins rank fourth, behind Evert, King and Rosie Casals.

Davenport was inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame in 2014 after a profession that noticed her win three Grand Slam singles and doubles titles, together with the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal in singles. She received 55 singles and 38 doubles titles in all, spent 98 weeks because the world No. 1 and was the year-end No. 1 in 1998, 2001 and 2004-05.

Since retiring in 2010, Davenport has labored as a commentator and as a coach, notably of American Madison Keys. As captain, Davenport could have a year-round position with USTA Participant Growth, touring to help American gamers and serving as a mentor for American execs and juniors.

“Lindsay has been the embodiment of a champion all through her profession, and few gamers have had as a lot success enjoying for his or her nation as she has,” stated Brian Hainline, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “We’re excited to welcome her expertise and management again to the Billie Jean King Cup crew at a time when the current and way forward for American ladies’s tennis couldn’t be brighter.”

Present captain Kathy Rinaldi, who will proceed on as USTA Participant Growth’s Head of Girls’s Tennis after stepping down from the captaincy, will lead the U.S. within the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals November 7-12 in Seville, Spain. The Finals will characteristic 12 nations competing in 4 round-robin teams of three, with the group winners qualifying for the knockout semifinals. The U.S. was drawn into Group A with Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

“I sit up for watching and supporting the U.S. crew within the Finals later this yr,” Davenport stated. “Kathy has been an incredible position mannequin to not solely the gamers now but in addition myself, and I sit up for persevering with what she began the final seven years. She’s achieved a outstanding job and I sit up for the U.S. hopefully profitable it this yr in order that once I’m captain, we’re defending champions.”