By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, September 21, 2025
Photo Credit: Julian Finney/Getty
The United States came short on its offer for a 19th Billie Jean King Cup champion.
The Italy’s defense, enabled by bachelors wins from Elisabetta Cocciarto AND Jasmine Paolini, Included all four groups by beating the United States 2-0 in today’s Billie Jean King Cup final at the Shenzhen Bay Center Arena in Shenzhen, China.
Winless in five preliminary meetings against Jessica Pegula, Paolini adopted revenge with a 6-4 win, 6-2 today to seal Italy’s sixth crown Jean King.
Afterwards, US Captain Lindsay Davenport, who was offering to become one of the few who won the BJK Cup as a player and a captain, said her team would return for another championship.
Everyone is so tough here. I mean, we were a match point down in our first match against Kazakhstan. If Emma (Navarro) does not beat Putintseva, who knows what happens.
“But happy to have a great run here. We felt as if we had a great opportunity today. But man, both ladies played excellent tennis. Congratulations to them.”
Davenport said she is hoping the US, which was without Australian champion Open Madison Keys and champion Roland Coco Guff, will get another Cup in the 2026.
“We’ll just continue to try,” Davenport said. “We’ll get another chance we hope to go back here to Shenzhen next year. We hope to learn from today. We hope these players continue to play excellently in the rest of the year.
“I look forward to watching the year play for all Americans. Yes, it’s been a great week. Difficult day, but a great week.”
