Iva Jovic set for U.S. Billie Jean King Cup debut vs. Belgium

Baptiste, 24, is currently ranked No. 43 in singles and was a key performer for the U.S. team in 2025. She won both of her singles matches while making her debut to help the U.S. advance through Qualifying and was a member of the team that reached the Finals last year in Shenzhen.

Kessler, 26, is currently ranked No. 51 in singles, and has won all three of her career WTA singles titles within the last two years. She was also a member of the U.S. team that reached the Finals last year in Shenzhen, which was her debut nomination.

Melichar-Martinez, 32, is ranked No. 18 in doubles and won three of her 18 career WTA doubles titles in 2025. She is a Grand Slam mixed doubles champion (Wimbledon 2018) and two-time Grand Slam women’s doubles finalist (US Open 2020, Wimbledon 2018). This is her third Billie Jean King Cup nomination. 

Captains may make up to three combined substitutions/additions to their rosters up until the day prior to the competition starting. The maximum roster size is five.

Billie Jean King Cup is the ‘World Cup of Tennis,’ with 148 nations competing across all levels of the competition in 2026. This year’s qualifying features 14 nations playing in head-to-head ties around the world, with the seven winners joining hosts China in the 2026 Finals. The Finals will be an eight-nation bracket competition played Sept. 22-27 in Shenzhen.