2023 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier: Pegula delivers clincher to send U.S. to Finals

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - The U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team is headed back to the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals.

Top-ranked American Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3, was a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Austria's Julia Grabher on Saturday at the Delray Beach Tennis Center to give the hosts an unassailable lead in the qualifying tie that they eventually closed out 4-0. 

This is the second straight year that Pegula has played the role of U.S. closer, and sent her team into the Finals with a win. Last year in this round, she and Asia Muhammad won a fifth and final doubles rubber to close out a thrilling 3-2 win over Ukraine. This year, it was all business for the American in the weekend's third singles: Pegula broke Grabher's serve four times in victory, and faced a break point, in a 55-minute triumph in a match between the two countries' top players.

Read more: U.S. cruises to 2-0 lead on Day 1 vs. Austria

"I was really happy that I got to clinch the match today, especially after winning a pretty tough match last night [6-0, 7-5 over Sinja Kraus]," Pegula said afterwards.

"I really tried to go out and tried to clinch the win for us. I think it's fun and a privilege to be in this moment and do it. Obviously, a little bit of pressure, but I think it's fun to get up for those types of matches."

While Coco Gauff's scheduled singles match against Grabher was pulled from the schedule as rules dictate after the U.S. officially clinched, she and Caty McNally wrapped the tie with a 6-1, 6-4 win in doubles over Kraus and Melanie Klaffner in the final match. Gauff, not initially nominated to play doubles in the tie, replaced Danielle Collins for the last match, earning a second opportunity to play on her home court after beating Grabher in the first match on Friday night.